Compare towns
Lynn vs Springfield vs Webster vs Saugus
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).
Saugus has the most people working from home (14.3%).
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 | Springfield | Webster | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 101,709 |
154,749Highest |
17,748Lowest |
28,773 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Saugus and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
15.2%±2Lowest 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% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Saugus and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
31.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$101,539±$3kHighest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60 about the MA average |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,384 10% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$6,049Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2 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% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
71.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 8% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #277 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | Springfield | Webster | Saugus |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | Springfield Central High | Bartlett High School | Saugus High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0 |
12.2 |
11.6Lowest |
15.5Highest |
| 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.