What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).

Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).

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	Salem
People
Population	101,709Highest	44,795Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA	39.3±1.5Highest about the MA average
Kids under 18	24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	13.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA	$85,153±$5kHighest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$510,100±$23kLowest 9% below MA	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA
	Salem and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,722±$60Lowest about the MA average	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA
	Salem 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	$6,114Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lynn and Salem 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%	12.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1946Highest 18 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 8% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#277 of 282 in MA	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Lynn	Salem
High school in town	Lynn English High	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	15.0Highest	9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.