Compare towns

Danvers vs Lynn vs Springfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danvers has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).

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.

MeasureDanversLynnSpringfield
People
Population
28,098Lowest
101,709
154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+12.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±3Highest
13% above MA
36.5±1.2
9% below MA
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
Kids under 18
17.2%±2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
24.1%±1.4
MA: 19.4%
24.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
Springfield and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
13.7%±0.9
MA: 17.9%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
24.1%
MA: 47.3%
20.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
7.5%±0.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$125,395±$10kHighest
21% above MA
$75,043±$3k
28% below MA
$52,656±$2kLowest
49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$644,200±$23kHighest
15% above MA
$510,100±$23k
9% below MA
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$192Highest
18% above MA
$1,722±$60
about the MA average
$1,144±$55Lowest
35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,654Highest
11% above MA
$5,384
10% below MA
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±8.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
60%±4.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±3.1
MA: 51.8%
Lynn and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
13.8%
MA: 10%
25.8%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
48.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
49.6%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Highest
1 yr older than MA
1946Lowest
18 yrs older than MA
1952
12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
about the MA average
32 minHighest
8% above MA
20 minLowest
31% below MA
Work from home
19.3%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.9%±1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
8.4%±0.9
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #91 of 282 in MA #277 of 282 in MA #276 of 282 in MA
School district Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Lynn Springfield
High school in town Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Lynn English High Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
15.0Highest
12.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.