Compare towns
Lynn vs Ripton vs Nahant 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 kids (24.1% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Nahant has the most expensive homes ($749k median).
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 | Ripton | Nahant | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 101,709 |
508Lowest |
3,325 |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2 6% below U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
60.7±2.9Highest 56% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Nahant and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
11%±3.1Lowest 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% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nahant and Ripton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,043±$3kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$112,762±$6k 40% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
| Ripton and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $510,100±$23k 53% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$748,800±$99kHighest 125% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60 22% above U.S. |
— | $1,777±$334Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| 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 73% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$6,615Highest 112% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nahant and Ripton 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 | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Nahant | Lowell |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | None in town | None in town | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0Highest |
— | — | 14.8Lowest |
| 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.