Compare towns

Lowell vs Danvers vs Lynn

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has the most affordable homes ($429k median).
Danvers has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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.

MeasureLowellDanversLynn
People
Population
118,368Highest
28,098Lowest
101,709
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.5%
MA: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+12.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
35.6±0.8Lowest
11% below MA
45.3±3Highest
13% above MA
36.5±1.2
9% below MA
Kids under 18
21.7%±1.3
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
24.1%±1.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
Lynn and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
12.6%±0.8Lowest
MA: 17.9%
22.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
13.7%±0.9
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30%
MA: 47.3%
48.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
24.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
9.7%±0.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,658±$4k
24% below MA
$125,395±$10kHighest
21% above MA
$75,043±$3kLowest
28% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$429,200±$11kLowest
24% below MA
$644,200±$23kHighest
15% above MA
$510,100±$23k
9% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,625±$40Lowest
8% below MA
$2,076±$192Highest
18% above MA
$1,722±$60
about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,499Lowest
25% below MA
$6,654Highest
11% above MA
$5,384
10% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.4%±3.8
MA: 51.8%
48.8%±8.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
60%±4.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
Lynn and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.9%Highest
MA: 10%
4.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
13.8%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
43.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
69.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
48.1%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1953
11 yrs older than MA
1963Highest
1 yr older than MA
1946Lowest
18 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
4% below MA
28 min
about the MA average
32 minHighest
8% above MA
Work from home
10.6%±1.3
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.9%±1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #255 of 282 in MA #91 of 282 in MA #277 of 282 in MA
School district Lowell — Lynn
High school in town Lowell High — Lynn English High
Students per teacherat that high school
14.8Lowest
—
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.