Compare towns
Lowell vs Springfield vs Wakefield 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).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
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 | Springfield | Wakefield | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 118,368 |
154,749Highest |
27,793Lowest |
101,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
42.4±1.7Highest 6% above MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield 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% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,958±$102Highest 11% above MA |
$1,722±$60 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499 25% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$5,384 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Springfield | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Lynn |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Springfield Central High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
12.2 |
10.7Lowest |
15.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.