Compare towns
Fall River vs Upton vs Needham 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).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Upton | Needham | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 94,082 |
8,189Lowest |
32,459 |
101,709Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA |
| Upton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,155±$27 34% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,722±$60 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,384 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Needham 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #262 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Needham | Lynn |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | Blackstone Valley | Needham High | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
11.2Lowest |
11.9 |
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.