Compare towns
Lynn vs Townsend vs Everett vs New Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lynn has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
New Bedford has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Townsend | Everett | New Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 101,709Highest |
9,100Lowest |
50,045 |
100,998 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
40.9±3.3Highest about the MA average |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
37±0.8 8% below MA |
| Townsend and New Bedford 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% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
23.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Lynn and New Bedford 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% |
17.1%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Townsend and New Bedford 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% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
17%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Lynn 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 |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$56,981±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$357,300±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60 about the MA average |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,137±$26Lowest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,384 10% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$4,338Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±3.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
20.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
40.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946 18 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 8% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
5.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #277 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #263 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | North Middlesex | Everett | New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | North Middlesex Regional | Everett High | New Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0Highest |
13.1 |
12.1Lowest |
13.5 |
| 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.