What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lynnfield has the most expensive homes ($918k median).

Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lynnfield	Thompson
People
Population	13,064Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	41.4±2.1Lowest 6% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	28%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thompson 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 U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lynnfield and Thompson 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 117% above U.S.	$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$917,600±$31kHighest 176% above U.S.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,676±$219Highest 89% above U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.2%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lynnfield and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	27.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#27 of 282 in MA	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Lynnfield	Thompson School District
High school in town	Lynnfield High	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Highest	7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.