Compare towns

Nahant vs Marblehead vs Lynn

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nahant has the oldest population (median age 60.7).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).

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.

MeasureNahantMarbleheadLynn
People
Population
3,325Lowest
20,413
101,709Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+3.2%
MA: +7.4%
+12.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
60.7±2.9Highest
52% above MA
49.1±2
23% above MA
36.5±1.2Lowest
9% below MA
Kids under 18
11%±3.1Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.3%±2.5
MA: 19.4%
24.1%±1.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
Lynn and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
36.2%±6.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
22.7%±2.5
MA: 17.9%
13.7%±0.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
61.6%
MA: 47.3%
78.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
24.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±1
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±0.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,762±$6k
8% above MA
$182,132±$28kHighest
75% above MA
$75,043±$3kLowest
28% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$748,800±$99k
33% above MA
$943,900±$31kHighest
68% above MA
$510,100±$23kLowest
9% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,777±$334Highest
about the MA average
$1,764±$147
about the MA average
$1,722±$60Lowest
about the MA average
Nahant and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,615
10% above MA
$8,309Highest
39% above MA
$5,384Lowest
10% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.5%±17.4
MA: 51.8%
49.5%±8.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
60%±4.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
Lynn and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%
MA: 10%
4.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
13.8%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.9%
MA: 62.5%
85.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
48.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1944
20 yrs older than MA
1946Highest
18 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
10% above MA
33 minHighest
13% above MA
32 minLowest
8% above MA
Work from home
18.7%±5.7
MA: 18.6%
34%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.9%±1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #129 of 282 in MA #47 of 282 in MA #277 of 282 in MA
School district Nahant Marblehead Lynn
High school in town None in town Marblehead High Lynn English High
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.7Lowest
15.0Highest
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.