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 (16.3%).

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	30,964Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	36.5±1.2Lowest 6% below U.S.	44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S.
Kids under 18	24.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22%	16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	13.7%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lynn and Salem 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 7% below U.S.	$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$510,100±$23kHighest 53% above U.S.	$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S.
	Lynn and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,722±$60Highest 22% above U.S.	$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Lynn and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,384Lowest 73% above U.S.	$6,992Highest 124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	13.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 19% above U.S.	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	7.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#277 of 282 in MA	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	Lynn	Salem School District
High school in town	Lynn English High	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.0Highest	11.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.