Compare towns
Lynn vs Reading vs Scituate
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 highest household income ($166k).
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
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 | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 101,709Highest |
25,612 |
19,365Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
47.1±3.1Highest 18% above MA |
| Scituate 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% |
22.2%±2.3Lowest 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%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Scituate 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% MA: 47.3% |
66.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Lynn and Scituate 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$136,732±$16k 32% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $510,100±$23kLowest 9% below MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$847,600±$25kHighest 51% above MA |
| Scituate and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60 about the MA average |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,609±$311Lowest 9% below MA |
| Reading and Lynn 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 |
$8,807 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.7%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Scituate 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% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
87.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 8% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
38 minHighest 31% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
28%±4 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Scituate 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #43 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | Reading | Scituate |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | Reading Memorial High | Scituate High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0Highest |
12.1 |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.