Compare towns
Nahant vs Needham 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).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Lynn has the most renters (51.9% 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 | Nahant | Needham | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
32,459 |
101,709Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Lynn 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.6% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,762±$6k 8% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $748,800±$99k 33% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$510,100±$23kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,777±$334 about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,722±$60Lowest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,615 10% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,384Lowest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #129 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nahant | Needham | Lynn |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
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.