Compare towns
Lynn vs Plainfield vs Putnam vs Lowell
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 the most expensive homes ($510k median).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Putnam | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 101,709 |
15,141 |
9,292Lowest |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2 6% below U.S. |
37±4.5 5% below U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Lynn and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,043±$3k 7% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$78,658±$4kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Lowell and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $510,100±$23kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
| Lynn and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,384Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,499 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lynn and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lowell and Plainfield 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | Plainfield School District | Putnam School District | Lowell |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | Plainfield High School | Putnam High School | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0Highest |
10.3 |
9.5Lowest |
14.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.