Compare towns
Lynn vs Saugus vs Wareham 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).
Wareham has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
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 | Wareham | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 101,709 |
28,773 |
23,302Lowest |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%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 |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Lynn and Lowell 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%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham and Saugus 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1% MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
$101,539±$3kHighest about the MA average |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
| Saugus and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60 about the MA average |
$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$1,504±$180Lowest 15% below MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,384 10% below MA |
$6,049Highest about the MA average |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1% MA: 62.5% |
71.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 8% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Saugus and Wareham 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 | #194 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | Saugus | Wareham | Lowell |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | Saugus High | Wareham Senior High | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0 |
15.5Highest |
8.6Lowest |
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.