Compare towns

Lynn vs Springfield vs Sutton

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%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).

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.

MeasureLynnSpringfieldSutton
People
Population
101,709
154,749Highest
9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+4.4%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
36.5±1.2
9% below MA
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
44.3±2.5Highest
11% above MA
Kids under 18
24.1%±1.4
MA: 19.4%
24.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±3.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Springfield and Lynn 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%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
18.8%±3.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.1%
MA: 47.3%
20.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
52.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
7.5%±0.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$75,043±$3k
28% below MA
$52,656±$2kLowest
49% below MA
$147,125±$25kHighest
42% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$510,100±$23k
9% below MA
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
$523,100±$47kHighest
7% below MA
Sutton and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,722±$60Highest
about the MA average
$1,144±$55Lowest
35% below MA
$1,190±$401
32% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,384
10% below MA
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
$6,763Highest
13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60%±4.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±3.1
MA: 51.8%
47.5%±24.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Lynn and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.8%
MA: 10%
25.8%Highest
MA: 10%
5.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
48.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
49.6%
MA: 62.5%
89.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1946Lowest
18 yrs older than MA
1952
12 yrs older than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
8% above MA
20 minLowest
31% below MA
30 min
about the MA average
Work from home
7.9%±1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
8.4%±0.9
MA: 18.6%
22.7%±4.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #277 of 282 in MA #276 of 282 in MA #105 of 282 in MA
School district Lynn Springfield Sutton
High school in town Lynn English High Springfield Central High Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school
15.0Highest
12.2Lowest
12.6
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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.