Compare towns
Worcester vs Middlesex 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Worcester | Middlesex | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
1,943Lowest |
101,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
36.5±1.2 6% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lynn and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.7%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%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% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$75,043±$3k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$510,100±$23kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,722±$60Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,384 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 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 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #266 of 282 in MA | — | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lynn |
| High school in town | South High Community | None in town | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Lowest |
— | 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.