Compare towns
Nahant vs Plainfield vs Windsor 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 most expensive homes ($749k median).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Windsor has the highest household income ($116k).
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.
| Measure | Nahant | Plainfield | Windsor | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325 |
616Lowest |
1,065 |
101,709Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA |
| Nahant and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lynn and Plainfield 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% |
29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Nahant and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
41.5% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,762±$6k 8% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
$75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
| Windsor and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $748,800±$99kHighest 33% above MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,777±$334Highest about the MA average |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
— | $1,722±$60 about the MA average |
| Nahant and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,615Highest 10% above MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$5,384 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
96.2% MA: 62.5% |
48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
32 minLowest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Windsor 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 | #129 of 282 in MA | — | — | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nahant | — | — | Lynn |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 15.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.