Compare towns
Fall River vs Pittsfield 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).
Pittsfield has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
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.
| Measure | Fall River | Pittsfield | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 94,082 |
43,457Lowest |
101,709Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% MA: +7.4% |
-1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
42.4±2Highest 6% above MA |
36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA |
| Pittsfield and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
34.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Pittsfield 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 |
$70,582±$5k 32% below MA |
$75,043±$3kHighest 28% below MA |
| Lynn and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
$256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA |
$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,155±$27 34% below MA |
$1,134±$61Lowest 36% below MA |
$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,148 31% below MA |
$5,384Highest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±5.7 MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Pittsfield 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% |
14.9% MA: 10% |
13.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
62.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1950Highest 14 yrs older than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% below MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.2%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1 MA: 18.6% |
| Pittsfield and Lynn 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #251 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Pittsfield | Lynn |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | Taconic High | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
9.3Lowest |
15.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.