Compare towns
Lynn vs Milton vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milton has the most people working from home (29.7%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k 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 | Milton | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 101,709 |
28,587Lowest |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
41.1±1.8Highest about the MA average |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Milton 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% |
16.1%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Milton and Lynn 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 MA: 47.3% |
71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,384 10% below MA |
$9,677Highest 61% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946 18 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1951Highest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 8% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #277 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | Milton | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | Milton High | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0Highest |
12.4Lowest |
14.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.