Compare towns
Nahant vs Sutton vs Wellfleet 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).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).
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 | Sutton | Wellfleet | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
9,452 |
4,404 |
101,709Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
58.4±4.1 46% above MA |
36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA |
| Nahant and Wellfleet 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
14.4%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lynn and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
35.3%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Nahant and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.6% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
64.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Lynn and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,762±$6k 8% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$117,938±$27k 13% above MA |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
| Sutton and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $748,800±$99k 33% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$855,300±$70kHighest 52% above MA |
$510,100±$23kLowest 9% below MA |
| Wellfleet and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,777±$334Highest about the MA average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,563±$597 11% 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 | $6,615 10% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,862Lowest 19% below MA |
$5,384 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
28.6%±23.8Lowest 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% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.2% MA: 10% |
13.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.7%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Wellfleet 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | — | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nahant | Sutton | Wellfleet | Lynn |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Lowest |
— | 15.0Highest |
| 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.