The short version

  • Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
  • The median home costs $415,200 in Lawrence and $510,100 in Lynn.
  • Households earn more in Lynn ($75,043 vs $60,433 median).
  • Lawrence gets far more snow: 58 inches a year vs 49.
  • Lynn is growing faster: +2.9% since 2020 vs +0.2%.
  • Commutes are shorter in Lawrence (23 vs 32 minutes each way).

Side by side

Lawrence, MALynn, MA
People
Population (2025)89,320104,236
Growth since 2020+0.2%+2.9%
People per square mile12,8899,706
Median age32.636.5
Bachelor's degree or higher17%24%
Money and housing
Median household income$60,433$75,043
Median home value$415,200$510,100
Home value to income6.9×6.8×
Median rent (with utilities)$1,662$1,722
Metro price level (US = 100)108.3108.3
Housing price level (US = 100)148.4148.4
$75,000 elsewhere equals$81,200$81,200
Homeowners28%48%
Top state income tax9%9%
Combined sales tax6.25%6.25%
Work and commute
Average commute (minutes)23.031.5
Work from home7%8%
Take public transit4%9%
Unemployment (2020-24 avg)8.5%5%
Poverty rate17.6%13.8%
Weather
January high / low35° / 19°37° / 23°
July high / low83° / 63°82° / 66°
Precipitation per year41 in44 in
Snowfall per year58 in49 in
Days 90°F or hotter1514
Nights below freezing12392
Comfortable months56
Risks, air and home prices
Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county)Relatively HighRelatively High
FEMA risk score (lower is safer)95.695.6
Good air days, 202571%71%
Home prices, past year+2.8%+2.8%
Home prices, past 5 years+39.7%+39.7%

Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.

Weather, month by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Lawrence Lynn. Solid lines are average highs, dashed lines average lows (°F), NOAA 1991-2020 normals.

Most comfortable months: Lawrence: May to September. Lynn: May to October.

Full monthly tables: Lawrence weather by month and Lynn weather by month.

What $75,000 is worth

A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $81,200 in Lawrence and $81,200 in Lynn. Moving from Lawrence to Lynn, you would need about $75,000 to match a $75,000 salary.

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