Compare towns
Worcester vs North Reading vs Lynn
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).
North Reading has the most people working from home (26.1%).
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.
| Measure | Worcester | North Reading | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
15,765Lowest |
101,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
43±2.8Highest 8% above MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lynn and North Reading 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% |
16.7%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% MA: 47.3% |
56.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA |
$510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,722±$60 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$5,384 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Lynn 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 17% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #266 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | North Reading | Lynn |
| High school in town | South High Community | North Reading High | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
10.1Lowest |
15.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.