Compare towns
Everett vs Wakefield vs Dedham 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%).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Wakefield | Dedham | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
27,793 |
25,237Lowest |
101,709Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
| Dedham and Wakefield 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% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest 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% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Wakefield 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% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Dedham 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 |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
| Wakefield and Dedham 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 |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$510,100±$23kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,722±$60Lowest about the MA average |
| Everett and Dedham 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 |
$7,779 30% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,384 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 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% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wakefield and Dedham 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | — | Lynn |
| High school in town | Everett High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | — | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
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.