Compare towns
Ayer vs Everett vs Lynn vs Devens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most affordable homes ($464k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Lynn has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ayer | Everett | Lynn | Devens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645 |
50,045 |
101,709Highest |
1,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lynn and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5 MA: 17.9% |
| Ayer and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
$556,800±$96k about the MA average |
| Everett and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,722±$60 about the MA average |
$1,500±$539 15% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 16% below MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$5,384 10% below MA |
$5,556Highest 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
79.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Everett | Lynn | — |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Everett High | Lynn English High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
12.1 |
15.0Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.