Compare towns
Lynn vs Nahant vs Reading
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%).
Nahant has the oldest population (median age 60.7).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | Nahant | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 101,709Highest |
3,325Lowest |
25,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Lynn and Reading 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% |
36.2%±6.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lynn and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
$112,762±$6k 8% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $510,100±$23kLowest 9% below MA |
$748,800±$99k 33% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
| Reading and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60Lowest about the MA average |
$1,777±$334 about the MA average |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
| Reading and Nahant 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 |
$6,615 10% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.9% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946 18 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 8% above MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #277 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | Nahant | Reading |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | None in town | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| 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.