Compare towns
Lynn vs Dover vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Dover has the most people working from home (34.2%).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($429k 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 | Lynn | Dover | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 101,709 |
5,930Lowest |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dover and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Lowell and Dover 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 28% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60 about the MA average |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
| Dover and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,384 10% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 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 | 13.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #277 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Lowell |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0Highest |
9.8Lowest |
14.8 |
| 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.