Compare towns
Lynn vs Upton vs Sturbridge vs Lowell
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%).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Lowell has the shortest commute (28 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 | Upton | Sturbridge | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 101,709 |
8,189Lowest |
9,960 |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
| Sturbridge and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Lynn and Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Sturbridge 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 MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
| Lynn and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,384 10% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 8% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Sturbridge 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Lowell |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | Blackstone Valley | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0Highest |
11.2 |
7.7Lowest |
14.8 |
| 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.