Compare towns
Lynn vs Saugus vs Windham vs Nahant
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).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Nahant has the oldest population (median age 60.7).
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 | Windham | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 101,709Highest |
28,773 |
594Lowest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2Lowest 6% below U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
60.7±2.9Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
11%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lynn and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nahant and Windham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,043±$3kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$112,762±$6kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $510,100±$23k 53% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13k 81% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$748,800±$99kHighest 125% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
— | $1,777±$334 26% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Nahant 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. |
$6,049 94% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$6,615Highest 112% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lynn and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Nahant 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 | — | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | Saugus | — | Nahant |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | Saugus High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0Lowest |
15.5Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.