Compare towns
Worcester vs Ware vs Auburn 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Auburn has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Ware | Auburn | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
6,369Lowest |
16,970 |
101,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
| Auburn and Ware 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% |
23.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
21%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lynn and Ware 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% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Auburn and Ware 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% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$116,711±$10kHighest 12% above MA |
$75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$400,000±$16k 29% below MA |
$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,467±$155 17% below MA |
$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 21% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,289 12% below MA |
$5,384Highest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±10.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
57.4% MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 17% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
26 min 12% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #266 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #106 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | — | Auburn | Lynn |
| High school in town | South High Community | — | Auburn Senior High | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
— | 12.1Lowest |
15.0Highest |
| 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.