Compare towns
Lynn vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Saugus has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Reading | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 101,709Highest |
25,612Lowest |
28,773 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Saugus and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lynn and Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Saugus and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$101,539±$3k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $510,100±$23kLowest 9% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$603,400±$13k 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60Lowest about the MA average |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
| Saugus and Reading 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,049 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Saugus 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 8% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #277 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | Reading | Saugus |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | Reading Memorial High | Saugus High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0 |
12.1Lowest |
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.