What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the most people working from home (11.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Worcester	Lynn
People
Population	207,055Highest	101,709Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+12.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA	36.5±1.2Highest 9% below MA
Kids under 18	19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	13.7%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Lynn and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA	$75,043±$3kHighest 28% below MA
	Lynn and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA	$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA	$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,733Lowest 21% below MA	$5,384Highest 10% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	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 MA: 10%	13.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	48.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Highest 13 yrs older than MA	1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 17% below MA	32 minHighest 8% above MA
Work from home	11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6%	7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#266 of 282 in MA	#277 of 282 in MA
School district	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester	Lynn
High school in town	South High Community	Lynn English High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6Lowest	15.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.