What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).

Norwell has the most people working from home (27.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lynn	Norwell
People
Population	101,709Highest	11,361Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA	39.2±1.4Highest about the MA average
Kids under 18	24.1%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Norwell 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 MA: 17.9%	16.1%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Norwell 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%	69.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Lynn and Norwell 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	$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$510,100±$23kLowest 9% below MA	$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,722±$60Lowest about the MA average	$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,384Lowest 10% below MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Norwell and Lynn 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%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 8% above MA	35 minHighest 21% above MA
Work from home	7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%	27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#277 of 282 in MA	#80 of 282 in MA
School district	Lynn	Norwell
High school in town	Lynn English High	Norwell High
Students per teacherat that high school	15.0Highest	11.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.