Compare towns
Lowell 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
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($429k median).
Needham has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Needham | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
32,459Lowest |
101,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Lowest 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+ | 12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,722±$60 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,384 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Lowest 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 | 16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Needham | Lynn |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Needham High | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
11.9Lowest |
15.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.