Compare towns
Lynn vs Middlesex vs Worcester vs Nahant
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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Middlesex | Worcester | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 101,709 |
1,943Lowest |
207,055Highest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2 6% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
60.7±2.9Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
11%±3.1Lowest 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%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
36.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,043±$3k 7% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$112,762±$6kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Nahant and Middlesex 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±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$748,800±$99kHighest 125% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60 22% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$1,777±$334Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Nahant and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,384 73% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,733Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$6,615Highest 112% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lynn and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #266 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | — |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | None in town | South High Community | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0Highest |
— | 14.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.