Compare towns
Springfield vs Somerset 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).
Somerset has the most homeowners (86.9%).
Lynn 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 | Springfield | Somerset | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
18,298Lowest |
101,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
47±2.2Highest 18% above MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.4Lowest 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% |
25.3%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$112,677±$6kHighest 8% above MA |
$75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$418,800±$18k 25% below MA |
$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,271±$93 28% below MA |
$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,977 17% below MA |
$5,384Highest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±12.9 MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Somerset 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% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
12%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Somerset and Springfield 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #132 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset | Lynn |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Somerset Berkley Regional High School | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
11.6Lowest |
15.0Highest |
| 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.