Compare towns
Lynnfield vs Salem vs North Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lynnfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
North Reading has the oldest population (median age 43).
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 | Salem | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,064Lowest |
44,795Highest |
15,765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.1 4% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
43±2.8Highest 8% above MA |
| North Reading and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| 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%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lynnfield and Salem 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 MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $175,265±$23kHighest 69% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$147,768±$25k 42% above MA |
| 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 63% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,676±$219Highest 52% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
$2,259±$356 28% above MA |
| 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 67% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$9,693 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynnfield | Salem | North Reading |
| High school in town | Lynnfield High | Salem High | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.