Compare towns
Lynn vs Windham vs Worcester vs Nahant
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k 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 | Windham | Worcester | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 101,709 |
16,038 |
207,055Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.5±1.2 6% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
60.7±2.9Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±1.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
11%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
36.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,043±$3k 7% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$112,762±$6k 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $510,100±$23k 53% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$748,800±$99kHighest 125% above U.S. |
| Nahant and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,722±$60 22% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,487±$38Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$1,777±$334 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,384 73% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,733Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$6,615 112% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±17.4 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Nahant 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #266 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynn | Windham School District | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Nahant |
| High school in town | Lynn English High | Windham High School | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.0Highest |
12.8Lowest |
14.6 |
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| 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.