Compare towns
Lynn vs Middlesex 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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.
| Measure | Lynn | Middlesex | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 101,709Highest |
1,943Lowest |
28,773 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2Lowest 6% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lynn and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus and Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,043±$3kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60 22% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,384Lowest 73% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$6,049 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lynn and Saugus 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #277 of 282 in MA | — | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.