Compare towns
Everett vs North Reading 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%).
North Reading has the most homeowners (84.3%).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | North Reading | Reading | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
15,765Lowest |
25,612 |
101,709Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
43±2.8 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
| Reading and North Reading 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% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lynn and Reading 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% |
16.7%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and North Reading 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% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 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 | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$147,768±$25k 42% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
| Reading and North 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 |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$510,100±$23kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,722±$60Lowest about the MA average |
| North Reading and Everett 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 |
$9,693Highest 62% 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% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Lynn 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and North Reading 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | North Reading | Reading | Lynn |
| High school in town | Everett High | North Reading High | Reading Memorial High | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
10.1Lowest |
12.1 |
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.