Compare towns
Lynn vs Norwell 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Norwell has the most people working from home (27.1%).
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 | Norwell | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 101,709Highest |
11,361Lowest |
28,773 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA |
39.2±1.4 about the MA average |
44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.2%±2Lowest 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% |
22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA |
$101,539±$3k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $510,100±$23kLowest 9% below MA |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
$603,400±$13k 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60Lowest about the MA average |
$2,215±$336 26% above MA |
$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
| Saugus and Norwell 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 |
$6,049 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2Lowest 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% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #277 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | Norwell | Saugus |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | Norwell High | Saugus High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0 |
11.7Lowest |
15.5Highest |
| 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.