Compare towns
Lynn vs Brookline vs Nahant
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lynn has the most renters (51.9% rent).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
Nahant has the oldest population (median age 60.7).
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 | Lynn | Brookline | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 101,709Highest |
5,736 |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2Lowest 6% below U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
60.7±2.9Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±1.4 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
36.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,043±$3kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$112,762±$6k 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $510,100±$23kLowest 53% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$748,800±$99kHighest 125% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,777±$334 26% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,384Lowest 73% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,615 112% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lynn and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 19% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Nahant 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 | #277 of 282 in MA | #23 of 120 in NH | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | Brookline School District | Nahant |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.