Compare towns
Everett vs Milton vs Reading vs Lynn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Lynn has the most affordable homes ($510k 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.
| Measure | Everett | Milton | Reading | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
28,587 |
25,612Lowest |
101,709Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
| Reading and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Milton and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% MA: 47.3% |
71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
| Milton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$510,100±$23kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,722±$60 about the MA average |
| Everett and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$9,677Highest 61% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$5,384 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest 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 | 14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Milton 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Milton | Reading | Lynn |
| High school in town | Everett High | Milton High | Reading Memorial High | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.4 |
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.