What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lynn has the most expensive homes ($510k median).

Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).

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	Putnam
People
Population	101,709Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	36.5±1.2Lowest 6% below U.S.	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	24.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	13.7%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lynn and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,043±$3kHighest 7% below U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
	Lynn and Putnam 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.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,722±$60Highest 22% above U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,384Highest 73% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	13.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S.	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 19% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	7.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Putnam and Lynn 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	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Lynn	Putnam School District
High school in town	Lynn English High	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.0Highest	9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.