Compare towns

Lynn vs Marblehead vs Nahant

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%).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
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.

MeasureLynnMarbleheadNahant
People
Population
101,709Highest
20,413
3,325Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.2%
MA: +7.4%
-2.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
36.5±1.2Lowest
9% below MA
49.1±2
23% above MA
60.7±2.9Highest
52% above MA
Kids under 18
24.1%±1.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
22.3%±2.5
MA: 19.4%
11%±3.1Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Lynn and Marblehead 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%
22.7%±2.5
MA: 17.9%
36.2%±6.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
78.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
61.6%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±0.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±1
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$75,043±$3kLowest
28% below MA
$182,132±$28kHighest
75% above MA
$112,762±$6k
8% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$510,100±$23kLowest
9% below MA
$943,900±$31kHighest
68% above MA
$748,800±$99k
33% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,722±$60Lowest
about the MA average
$1,764±$147
about the MA average
$1,777±$334Highest
about the MA average
Nahant and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,384Lowest
10% below MA
$8,309Highest
39% above MA
$6,615
10% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60%±4.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
49.5%±8.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
53.5%±17.4
MA: 51.8%
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
MA: 10%
4.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
8.9%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
48.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
85.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
78.9%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1946Highest
18 yrs older than MA
1944
20 yrs older than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minLowest
8% above MA
33 minHighest
13% above MA
32 min
10% above MA
Work from home
7.9%±1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
34%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
18.7%±5.7
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #277 of 282 in MA #47 of 282 in MA #129 of 282 in MA
School district Lynn Marblehead Nahant
High school in town Lynn English High Marblehead High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
15.0Highest
10.7Lowest
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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.