What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).

Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lynn	Townsend
People
Population	101,709Highest	9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA	40.9±3.3Highest about the MA average
	Townsend and Lynn 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%	21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Lynn and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.1%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	35.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Lynn and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA	$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average	$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA
	Lynn and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,384Lowest 10% below MA	$6,031Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lynn and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.8%Highest MA: 10%	8.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 8% above MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Townsend and Lynn 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	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Lynn	North Middlesex
High school in town	Lynn English High	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	15.0Highest	13.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.