Compare towns
Springfield vs Webster vs Lowell 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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Webster has the oldest population (median age 37.2).
Lowell has the most people working from home (10.6%).
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 | Webster | Lowell | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
12,228Lowest |
118,368 |
101,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
37.2±2.1Highest 7% below MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
| Webster 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% |
21.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3Lowest 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%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Webster 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% MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$63,837±$8k 39% below MA |
$78,658±$4kHighest 24% below MA |
$75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
| Lowell and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,198±$85 32% below MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
| Lynn and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695 38% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
$5,384Highest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 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% |
16% MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
13.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
45.5% MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1 MA: 18.6% |
| Lowell 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | — | Lowell | Lynn |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | — | Lowell High | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 14.8 |
15.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.