Saugus, MA vs Waltham, MA

Saugus is moderately more affordable than Waltham, with a 10.4% lower cost of living index. Saugus scores 147 compared to 164 for Waltham, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Waltham can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Saugus is $1,982/month compared to $2,232/month in Waltham — a 11% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Saugus is more affordable at $589,500 median vs $705,700.

Median household income in Saugus is $100,819 compared to $116,560 in Waltham (-13.5%). While Waltham is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Saugus spend roughly 23.6% of their income on rent, more than the 23% in Waltham.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.9°F vs 50.5°F). Saugus receives more rainfall at 43.6" per year compared to 42.6" in Waltham.