Compare towns
Everett vs Needham vs Stoneham 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%).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
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 | Needham | Stoneham | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
32,459 |
23,355Lowest |
101,709Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
| Needham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$510,100±$23kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$1,722±$60Lowest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$5,384 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Needham | Stoneham | Lynn |
| High school in town | Everett High | Needham High | Stoneham High | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.9 |
10.7Lowest |
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.