Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lynn, MA
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Richmond leads 16 of 23 categories
Lynn
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,046 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
151⚠ High
Population
100,653
Richmond
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lynn, MA
Pros
Households earn $10,440 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $442,800
Violent crime (574.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,511/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Richmond
Richmond, VA
Pros
Homes cost $135k less ($308,300 vs $442,800)
41% less violent crime than Lynn
Rent averages $284/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,511)
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Lynn
Cons
Median income trails Lynn by $10,440/yr
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lynn
Median Income
$10,440
$70,046 vs $59,606/yr
Richmond
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Violent Crime
41% lower
336.9 vs 574.6 per 100k
Richmond
Median Home Value
$135k less
$308,300 vs $442,800
Richmond
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.5°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lynn, MA | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $442,800⚠ High | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,511⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,046 ✓ Higher | $59,606 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 56 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.9% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.2% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lynn | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.1°F | 47.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 89.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 47.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.1" | 8.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,653 | 227,171 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.2 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.6% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lynn's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richmond leads 16 of 23 categories. Lynn wins 7 and Richmond wins 16. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($442,800 vs $308,300 median home), income ($70,046 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lynn, MA and Richmond, VA are about 485 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.