Compare towns
Lynnfield vs Ripton vs Windham vs North Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lynnfield has the most expensive homes ($918k median).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k 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 | Lynnfield | Ripton | Windham | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,064 |
508Lowest |
594 |
15,765Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
43±2.8 11% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Lynnfield and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $175,265±$23kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$147,768±$25k 83% above U.S. |
| Lynnfield and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $917,600±$31kHighest 176% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$710,500±$24k 114% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,676±$219Highest 89% above U.S. |
— | — | $2,259±$356Lowest 60% above U.S. |
| Lynnfield and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$9,693 211% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Reading and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.1%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lynnfield and North Reading 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 | #27 of 282 in MA | — | — | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynnfield | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | North Reading |
| High school in town | Lynnfield High | None in town | — | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
— | — | 10.1Lowest |
| 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.