Compare towns
Exeter vs Lynn vs Saugus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Lynn has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k 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 | Exeter | Lynn | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Lowest |
101,709Highest |
28,773 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
36.5±1.2Lowest 6% below U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.7%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$75,043±$3kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$510,100±$23k 53% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,722±$60Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,384Lowest 73% above U.S. |
$6,049 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lynn and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Saugus 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #277 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lynn | Saugus |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Lynn English High | Saugus High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
15.0 |
15.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.