Compare towns

Lynn vs Exeter vs Saugus

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 kids (24.1% under 18).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k 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.

MeasureLynnExeterSaugus
People
Population
101,709Highest
16,151Lowest
28,773
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.5±1.2Lowest
6% below U.S.
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
44.5±2.5
14% above U.S.
Exeter and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24.1%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
15.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
13.7%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Saugus 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
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter 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.
$110,346±$13kHighest
37% above U.S.
$101,539±$3k
26% above U.S.
Exeter and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$510,100±$23k
53% above U.S.
$456,600±$21kLowest
37% above U.S.
$603,400±$13kHighest
81% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,722±$60Lowest
22% above U.S.
$1,856±$223
31% above U.S.
$2,241±$201Highest
59% above U.S.
Saugus and Exeter 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.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$6,049
94% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
53%±9.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lynn and Exeter 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%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
48.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1946Lowest
34 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
19% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
7.9%±1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.3%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter and Saugus 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 #22 of 120 in NH #194 of 282 in MA
School district Lynn Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Saugus
High school in town Lynn English High Exeter High School Saugus High
Students per teacherat that high school
15.0
12.1Lowest
15.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 59 photos → 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.