Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lynn, MA
VS
Mission Viejo, CA
🏆 Mission Viejo leads 15 of 23 categories
Lynn
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,046
Violent Crime Index
151⚠ High
Population
100,653 ✓ Larger
Mission Viejo
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
26 ✓ Safer
Population
93,233
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lynn, MA
Pros
Homes cost $441k less ($442,800 vs $883,600)
Rent averages $1111/mo less ($1,511 vs $2,622)
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Mission Viejo
Cons
Median income trails Mission Viejo by $66,524/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)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.4%)
Mission Viejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $66,524 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than Lynn
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (99.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,600
Higher rents — median is $2,622/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Lynn
Key Differences at a Glance
Lynn
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lynn
Median Home Value
$441k less
$442,800 vs $883,600
Mission Viejo
Median Income
$66,524
$136,570 vs $70,046/yr
Mission Viejo
Violent Crime
83% lower
99.2 vs 574.6 per 100k
Mission Viejo
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lynn, MA | Mission Viejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $442,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $883,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,511⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,046 | $136,570 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 113⚠ High | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High | 26 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 56 | 56 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.9% | 51.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.2% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lynn | Saddleback Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.1°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F ✓ Warmer | 79.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,653 ✓ Larger | 93,233 |
| Median Age | 36.2 | 46.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.6% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 22.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lynn's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Mission Viejo's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lynn is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mission Viejo leads 15 of 23 categories. Lynn wins 8 and Mission Viejo wins 15. 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 Lynn to Mission Viejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($442,800 vs $883,600 median home), income ($70,046 vs $136,570), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lynn, MA and Mission Viejo, CA are about 2,580 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.