Compare towns
Everett vs Sutton vs Ayer 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%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Ayer has the most affordable homes ($464k median).
Lynn has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Sutton | Ayer | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
9,452 |
8,645Lowest |
101,709Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
| Sutton and Ayer 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% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lynn and Everett 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% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Ayer 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,722±$60 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$5,384 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest 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% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Ayer 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Sutton | Ayer Shirley School District | Lynn |
| High school in town | Everett High | Sutton High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.6 |
11.5Lowest |
15.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.