Compare towns
Lynn vs Williston vs Worcester vs Saugus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lynn has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k median).
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k median).
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 | Williston | Worcester | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 101,709 |
10,144Lowest |
207,055Highest |
28,773 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2 6% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Williston and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lynn and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus and Williston 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,043±$3k 7% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
| Williston and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $510,100±$23k 53% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60 22% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,487±$38Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,384 73% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$4,733Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$6,049Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lynn and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #266 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Saugus |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | None in town | South High Community | Saugus High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0 |
— | 14.6Lowest |
15.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.