Compare towns
Lowell vs Lynn vs Methuen vs Everett
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).
Lynn has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Methuen has the most homeowners (72.3%).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
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 | Lynn | Methuen | Everett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
101,709 |
53,475 |
50,045Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
— | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
39.9±1.7Highest about the MA average |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Lynn and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
$113,310±$7kHighest 9% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
$499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
$1,722±$60 about the MA average |
$1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$5,384Highest 10% below MA |
$5,061 16% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Everett 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% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2% MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
| Methuen 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 | #277 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Lynn | Methuen | Everett |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Lynn English High | Methuen High | Everett High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
15.0Highest |
13.1 |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.