Compare towns
Lynn vs Ware vs Lowell vs Springfield
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%).
Ware has the most homeowners (72.3%).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Springfield has the shortest commute (20 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 | Ware | Lowell | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 101,709 |
10,048Lowest |
118,368 |
154,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Lynn 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% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
30%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$78,658±$4kHighest 24% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
| Lowell and Lynn 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 |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% 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 | $5,384Highest 10% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 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% MA: 10% |
11.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 8% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Lowell 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | Ware | Lowell | Springfield |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Lowell High | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0Highest |
11.1Lowest |
14.8 |
12.2 |
| 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.