Compare towns
Lynn vs Upton vs Sturbridge 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%).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Saugus has the shortest commute (30 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 | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 101,709Highest |
8,189Lowest |
9,960 |
28,773 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
44.5±2.5 11% above 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%±3 MA: 19.4% |
15.2%±2Lowest 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%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Saugus and Upton 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% |
31.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest 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 |
$101,539±$3k about the MA average |
| 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±$41k about the MA average |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA |
| Saugus and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60 about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,384Lowest 10% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$6,049 about the MA average |
| 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% |
53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Saugus 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
71.5% 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 |
1962 2 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 |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4 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 | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Saugus |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | Blackstone Valley | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Saugus High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0 |
11.2 |
7.7Lowest |
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.