Compare towns
Lynn vs Needham vs Worcester vs Saugus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lynn has the oldest housing (typical home built 1946).
Needham has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k median).
Saugus has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Worcester | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 101,709 |
32,459 |
207,055Highest |
28,773Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Saugus and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
31.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$101,539±$3k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$603,400±$13k 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60 about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,241±$201 27% above MA |
| Needham and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,384 10% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$6,049 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Needham 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 8% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #277 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | Needham | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Saugus |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | Needham High | South High Community | Saugus High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0 |
11.9Lowest |
14.6 |
15.5Highest |
| 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.