Compare towns

Worcester vs Gorham vs Lynn

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k median).
Gorham has the most homeowners (81.5%).
Lynn has the most kids (24.1% under 18).

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.

MeasureWorcesterGorhamLynn
People
Population
207,055Highest
18,300Lowest
101,709
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+14.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
33.9±0.5Lowest
13% below U.S.
39.4±2.9Highest
about the U.S. average
36.5±1.2
6% below U.S.
Gorham and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.6%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
24.1%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Lynn and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13.3%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.7%±0.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
24.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
14.1%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,102±$2kLowest
13% below U.S.
$112,312±$6kHighest
39% above U.S.
$75,043±$3k
7% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$374,400±$7kLowest
13% above U.S.
$460,900±$26k
39% above U.S.
$510,100±$23kHighest
53% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,487±$38Lowest
5% above U.S.
$1,680±$355
19% above U.S.
$1,722±$60Highest
22% above U.S.
Lynn and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,733Lowest
52% above U.S.
$4,825
55% above U.S.
$5,384Highest
73% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±2.9
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
60%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lynn and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
19.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
13.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
42.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
48.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1951
29 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1946Lowest
34 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
32 minHighest
19% above U.S.
Work from home
11.5%±1
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.9%±1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #266 of 282 in MA #24 of 133 in ME #277 of 282 in MA
School district Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester Gorham Public Schools Lynn
High school in town South High Community Gorham High School Lynn English High
Students per teacherat that high school
14.6
12.9Lowest
15.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.