Compare towns
Lynn vs Oakham 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%).
Oakham has the most affordable homes ($420k median).
Nahant has the most people working from home (18.7%).
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 | Oakham | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 101,709Highest |
1,639Lowest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lynn and Oakham 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 |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$112,762±$6kHighest 8% above MA |
| Nahant and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
$748,800±$99kHighest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60 about the MA average |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,777±$334Highest about the MA average |
| Nahant and Lynn 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 |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
$6,615Highest 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
4.4%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 |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 8% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Nahant and Oakham 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 | Quabbin | Nahant |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0 |
— | — |
| 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.