Compare towns
Lynn vs Saugus vs Upton vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($429k 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 | Saugus | Upton | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 101,709 |
28,773 |
8,189Lowest |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
44.5±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
| Upton and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Lynn and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Saugus and Upton 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 MA: 47.3% |
31.4% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
$101,539±$3k about the MA average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
| Saugus and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60 about the MA average |
$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,384 10% below MA |
$6,049 about the MA average |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.8% MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1% MA: 62.5% |
71.5% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 8% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #277 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | Saugus | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Lowell |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | Saugus High | Blackstone Valley | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0 |
15.5Highest |
11.2Lowest |
14.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.