Compare towns
Springfield vs Ayer vs Lynn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Lynn has the most expensive homes ($510k 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 | Springfield | Ayer | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
8,645Lowest |
101,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
39.2±2.8Highest about the MA average |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
| Ayer and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Ayer and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA |
| Lynn and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$5,384Highest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
10.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #276 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Ayer Shirley School District | Lynn |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
11.5Lowest |
15.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.