Compare towns
North Reading vs Lynn 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 oldest population (median age 43).
Lynn has the most renters (51.9% rent).
Lynnfield has the most expensive homes ($918k median).
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 | Lynn | Lynnfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,765 |
101,709Highest |
13,064Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.8Highest 8% above MA |
36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA |
41.4±2.1 4% above MA |
| North Reading and Lynnfield 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% |
24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
28%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lynnfield and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2 MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lynnfield and North Reading 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% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lynn 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 |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below 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 |
$510,100±$23kLowest 9% below MA |
$917,600±$31kHighest 63% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,259±$356 28% above MA |
$1,722±$60Lowest 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 |
$5,384Lowest 10% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Lowest 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% |
13.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
32 minLowest 8% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest 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 | #277 of 282 in MA | #27 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Reading | Lynn | — |
| High school in town | North Reading High | Lynn English High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
15.0Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 14 photos → |
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.