Compare towns

Fall River 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

Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).

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.

MeasureFall RiverDedhamLynn
People
Population
94,082
25,237Lowest
101,709Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
MA: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+12.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
39.3±1.2
about the MA average
44.6±1.6Highest
12% above MA
36.5±1.2Lowest
9% below MA
Kids under 18
19.9%±1.2
MA: 19.4%
18.6%±1.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
24.1%±1.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
16.1%±0.9
MA: 17.9%
21.9%±2Highest
MA: 17.9%
13.7%±0.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
16.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
55%Highest
MA: 47.3%
24.1%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±0.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
Dedham and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,673±$3kLowest
45% below MA
$128,955±$10kHighest
24% above MA
$75,043±$3k
28% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$395,500±$11kLowest
30% below MA
$661,800±$16kHighest
18% above MA
$510,100±$23k
9% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,155±$27Lowest
34% below MA
$2,042±$182Highest
16% above MA
$1,722±$60
about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,953Lowest
34% below MA
$7,918Highest
32% above MA
$5,384
10% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.5%±3.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±10
MA: 51.8%
60%±4.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
Lynn and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
19.6%Highest
MA: 10%
5.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
13.8%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
35.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
73.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
48.1%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945Lowest
19 yrs older than MA
1956Highest
8 yrs older than MA
1946
18 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
11% below MA
29 min
about the MA average
32 minHighest
8% above MA
Work from home
7.1%±1.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20%±2.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.9%±1
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #262 of 282 in MA #119 of 282 in MA #277 of 282 in MA
School district Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical — Lynn
High school in town B M C Durfee High — Lynn English High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Lowest
—
15.0Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.