Compare towns
North Reading vs Acton vs Lynnfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Reading has the most affordable homes ($711k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Lynnfield 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 | North Reading | Acton | Lynnfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,765 |
24,155Highest |
13,064Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.8 8% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
41.4±2.1Lowest 4% above MA |
| Acton and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
28%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lynnfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lynnfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$175,265±$23kHighest 69% above MA |
| Lynnfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$917,600±$31kHighest 63% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,259±$356 28% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,676±$219Highest 52% above MA |
| Lynnfield and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,693Lowest 62% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69.2%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Lynnfield 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #27 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Reading | Acton-Boxborough | Lynnfield |
| High school in town | North Reading High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Lynnfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
12.0 |
| 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.