Compare towns
Erving vs Everett vs Lynn vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Erving has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Erving | Everett | Lynn | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703 |
50,045 |
101,709Highest |
1,240Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
45.9±3.7Highest 15% above MA |
| Chester and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
27.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest 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 | $77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
$89,390±$6kHighest 14% below MA |
| Chester and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
$281,900±$14k 50% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,722±$60 about the MA average |
$1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$5,384Highest 10% below MA |
$4,522 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
82.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Highest 7 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1 MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Everett and Lynn 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 | — | #264 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Erving | Everett | Lynn | Gateway |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | Lynn English High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
15.0Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.