Compare towns
Reading vs Lynn vs Everett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Lynn has the most affordable homes ($510k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
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 | Reading | Lynn | Everett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612Lowest |
101,709Highest |
50,045 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lynn and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$510,100±$23kLowest 9% below MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,722±$60Lowest about the MA average |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
| Everett and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$5,384 10% below MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Lynn | Everett |
| High school in town | — | Lynn English High | Everett High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.0Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| 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.