Compare towns
Lynn vs Rowley vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lynn has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Rowley has the highest household income ($133k).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k 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.
| Measure | Lynn | Rowley | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 101,709 |
6,251Lowest |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
$667,300±$52kHighest 19% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
| Lynn and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,384 10% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.8% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 8% above MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester and Rowley 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | Triton | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | None in town | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0Highest |
— | 14.6Lowest |
| 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.