Compare towns
Lynn vs Ware vs Worcester
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 expensive homes ($510k median).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Ware | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 101,709 |
6,369Lowest |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
39.8±6Highest about the MA average |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
| Ware 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% |
23.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lynn and Ware 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% |
17.4%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Lynn 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% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,043±$3kHighest 28% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
| Lynn and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,384Highest 10% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946 18 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1951Highest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 8% above MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Worcester 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | — | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | — | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0Highest |
— | 14.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.