Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Lynn, MA
🏆 Kent leads 12 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
Lynn
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,046
Violent Crime Index
151⚠ High
Population
100,653
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kent, WA
Pros
15% less violent crime than Lynn
Households earn $16,920 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3771.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lynn, MA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.7%)
Rent averages $231/mo less ($1,511 vs $1,742)
Homes cost $36k less ($442,800 vs $478,400)
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (574.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Kent by $16,920/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Income
$16,920
$86,966 vs $70,046/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
15% lower
489.7 vs 574.6 per 100k
Lynn
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Lynn
Median Home Value
$36k less
$442,800 vs $478,400
Lynn
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Lynn, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $442,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,511⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $70,046 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 21.9% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Lynn |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 36.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 80.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 39.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 ✓ Larger | 100,653 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 48.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Lynn's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Lynn is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kent leads 12 of 23 categories. Kent wins 12 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 Kent to Lynn or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $442,800 median home), income ($86,966 vs $70,046), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Lynn, MA are about 2,484 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.