Compare towns
Worcester vs Needham vs Lynn vs Millbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Lynn has the oldest housing (typical home built 1946).
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 | Needham | Lynn | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
32,459 |
101,709 |
13,961Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
| Needham and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Millbury and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
$118,790±$13k 14% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
$450,100±$19k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,722±$60 about the MA average |
$1,623±$232 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,384 10% below MA |
$5,406 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
75.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 17% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #266 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Needham | Lynn | Millbury |
| High school in town | South High Community | Needham High | Lynn English High | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
11.9 |
15.0Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.