What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).

Dudley has the most homeowners (73.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lynn	Dudley
People
Population	101,709Highest	11,929Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA	40.2±2.4Highest about the MA average
Kids under 18	24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4%	20.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Lynn and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	16.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Dudley 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% MA: 47.3%	24.1% MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA	$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA
	Dudley and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA	$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average	$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,384Highest 10% below MA	$3,691Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8%	47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	13.8%Highest MA: 10%	6.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 8% above MA	27 minLowest 6% below MA
Work from home	7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%	9.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Dudley and Lynn 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	#142 of 282 in MA
School district	Lynn	Dudley-Charlton Reg
High school in town	Lynn English High	Shepherd Hill Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	15.0Highest	14.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.