Compare towns
Lowell vs Lynn vs Sutton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
101,709 |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest 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% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Sutton and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Lynn and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$5,384 10% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest 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% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Lynn | Sutton |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Lynn English High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
15.0Highest |
12.6Lowest |
| 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.