Compare towns
Lynn vs Salem vs Worcester
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).
Salem has the most homeowners (75.6%).
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 | Salem | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 101,709 |
30,964Lowest |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2 6% below U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,043±$3k 7% below U.S. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $510,100±$23kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% 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±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,487±$38Lowest 5% 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 | $5,384 73% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$4,733Lowest 52% 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% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lynn and Worcester 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% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #277 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | Salem School District | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | Salem High School | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0Highest |
11.2Lowest |
14.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.