Compare towns
Worcester vs Salem 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).
Salem has the most homeowners (75.6%).
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 | Salem | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
30,964Lowest |
101,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
36.5±1.2 6% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.7%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%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% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$75,043±$3k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$510,100±$23kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Lynn and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,722±$60Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Lynn and Salem 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. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$5,384 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest 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% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #266 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Salem School District | Lynn |
| High school in town | South High Community | Salem High School | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
11.2Lowest |
15.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.