Compare towns
North Reading vs Halifax 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 renters (15.7% rent).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
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 | Halifax | Lynnfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,765Highest |
7,748Lowest |
13,064 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.8Highest 8% above MA |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
41.4±2.1Lowest 4% above MA |
| North Reading and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lynnfield and North Reading 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% |
18.8%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.4% MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax 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±$25k 42% above MA |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$175,265±$23kHighest 69% above MA |
| Lynnfield and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$917,600±$31kHighest 63% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,259±$356 28% above MA |
$1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$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 | $9,693 62% above MA |
$6,840Lowest 14% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lynnfield and North Reading 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #27 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Reading | Halifax | Lynnfield |
| High school in town | North Reading High | None in town | Lynnfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
| 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.