Compare towns
Lowell vs Fairhaven 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 renters (56.8% rent).
Fairhaven has the most homeowners (74.4%).
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 | Lowell | Fairhaven | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
15,903Lowest |
101,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest 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% |
24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
32.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$95,965±$19kHighest 8% below MA |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
| Fairhaven and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$446,700±$19k 21% below MA |
$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
| Lynn and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499 25% below MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$5,384Highest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14Lowest 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% |
8.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Fairhaven and Lowell 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #126 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Fairhaven | Lynn |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Fairhaven High | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
11.4Lowest |
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.