Compare towns
Lynnfield vs Sturbridge 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%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
North Reading has the most renters (15.7% rent).
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 | Sturbridge | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,064 |
9,960Lowest |
15,765Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.1Lowest 4% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
43±2.8 8% above MA |
| Sturbridge and North Reading 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% |
20.7%±3Lowest 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%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge and Lynnfield 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% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $175,265±$23kHighest 69% above MA |
$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above 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 |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,676±$219Highest 52% above MA |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below 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 |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$9,693 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 10% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lynnfield | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | North Reading |
| High school in town | Lynnfield High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
7.7Lowest |
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.