Compare towns
Lynn vs Nelson 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 101,709Highest |
648Lowest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2Lowest 6% below U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
60.7±2.9Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±1.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 7% below U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$112,762±$6kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Nahant and Nelson 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. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$748,800±$99kHighest 125% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60 22% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below 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 | $5,384Lowest 73% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$6,615Highest 112% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | — | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | Nelson School District | — |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.