Compare towns
Lynn vs Maynard vs Springfield 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%).
Maynard has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Nahant has the most expensive homes ($749k 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 | Maynard | Springfield | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 101,709 |
10,712 |
154,749Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield 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% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$112,762±$6k 8% above MA |
| Maynard and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$748,800±$99kHighest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60 about the MA average |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,777±$334 about the MA average |
| Maynard and Nahant 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 |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,615 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.8% MA: 10% |
8.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946 18 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 8% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | — | Springfield | Nahant |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | — | Springfield Central High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0Highest |
— | 12.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.