Compare towns
Lynn vs Norwell 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%).
Norwell has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Norwell | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 101,709Highest |
11,361 |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA |
39.2±1.4 about the MA average |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest 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%±2 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$112,762±$6k 8% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $510,100±$23kLowest 9% below MA |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
$748,800±$99k 33% above MA |
| Norwell 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 |
$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
$1,777±$334 about the MA average |
| Norwell 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,615 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4Lowest 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946 18 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Norwell 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 | #80 of 282 in MA | #129 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 | 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.