Compare towns
Lynn vs Ware vs Nahant 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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Nahant has the oldest population (median age 60.7).
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 | Nahant | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 101,709Highest |
10,048 |
3,325Lowest |
28,773 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
44.5±2.5 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
22%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$112,762±$6kHighest 8% above MA |
$101,539±$3k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$748,800±$99kHighest 33% above MA |
$603,400±$13k 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60 about the MA average |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,777±$334 about the MA average |
$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
| Saugus and Nahant 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,615Highest 10% above MA |
$6,049 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946 18 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 8% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Nahant and Saugus 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 | #129 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | Ware | Nahant | Saugus |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Saugus High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0 |
11.1Lowest |
— | 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.