Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Lynn, MA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Boston
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Lynn
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,046
Violent Crime Index
151⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
100,653
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $19,166 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Lynn, MA
Pros
Homes cost $242k less ($442,800 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $470/mo less ($1,511 vs $1,981)
8% less violent crime than Boston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.7%)
Cons
Violent crime (574.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Boston by $19,166/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$19,166
$89,212 vs $70,046/yr
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 111.6 on the COL index
Lynn
Violent Crime
8% lower
574.6 vs 627.9 per 100k
Lynn
Median Home Value
$242k less
$442,800 vs $684,900
Lynn
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Lynn, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $442,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,511⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $70,046 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 12.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 21.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Lynn |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F ✓ Warmer | 36.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 39.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 100,653 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 48.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Lynn's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Boston wins 11 and Lynn wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Boston to Lynn or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $442,800 median home), income ($89,212 vs $70,046), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Lynn, MA are about 10 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.