Compare towns
Lynn vs Needham 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%).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Nahant has the oldest population (median age 60.7).
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 | Needham | Springfield | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 101,709 |
32,459 |
154,749Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
43.1±1.6 8% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 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% |
81.9%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% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$112,762±$6k 8% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$748,800±$99k 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60 about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,777±$334 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,384 10% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% 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% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
78.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946 18 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer 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 |
28 min 5% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #277 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | Needham | Springfield | — |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | Needham High | Springfield Central High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0Highest |
11.9Lowest |
12.2 |
— |
| 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.