Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lynn, MA
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 San Francisco leads 12 of 23 categories
Lynn
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,046
Violent Crime Index
151⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
100,653
San Francisco
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lynn, MA
Pros
Homes cost $906k less ($442,800 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $805/mo less ($1,511 vs $2,316)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $66,643/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)
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $66,643 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 36°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 80°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 117.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lynn
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Lynn
Violent Crime
4% lower
574.6 vs 596.5 per 100k
Lynn
Median Home Value
$906k less
$442,800 vs $1,348,700
Lynn
Summer Heat
18.5°F warmer
July avg high 80.3°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$66,643
$136,689 vs $70,046/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lynn, MA | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $442,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,511⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,046 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 56 ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.9% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.2% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lynn | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.1°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.3" | 30.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,653 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.2 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.6% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lynn's cost of living index is 111.6 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Lynn is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Francisco leads 12 of 23 categories. Lynn wins 11 and San Francisco wins 12. 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 San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($442,800 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($70,046 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lynn, MA and San Francisco, CA are about 2,728 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.