Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Germantown, MD
VS
Lynn, MA
🏆 Germantown leads 15 of 20 categories
Germantown
Maryland
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Lynn
Massachusetts
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,046
Violent Crime Index
151⚠ High
Population
100,653 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $39,222 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.2%)
Homes cost $49k less ($393,700 vs $442,800)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Lynn
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Lynn, MA
Pros
Rent averages $397/mo less ($1,511 vs $1,908)
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $39,222/yr
Violent crime (574.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Pricier housing — median home is $442,800
Key Differences at a Glance
Germantown
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Germantown
Median Income
$39,222
$109,268 vs $70,046/yr
Germantown
Median Home Value
$49k less
$393,700 vs $442,800
Germantown
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Germantown
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 84.3°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Germantown, MD | Lynn, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $393,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $442,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,908⚠ High | $1,511⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,268 ✓ Higher | $70,046 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 113⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 151⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 56 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 21.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County Public Schools | Lynn |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer | 36.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.3°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.7" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.6" ✓ Less | 39.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,210 | 100,653 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 36.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 48.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Germantown's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Lynn's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Germantown is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Germantown leads 15 of 20 categories. Germantown wins 15 and Lynn wins 5. 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 Germantown to Lynn or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($393,700 vs $442,800 median home), income ($109,268 vs $70,046), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Germantown, MD and Lynn, MA are about 401 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.