Hamilton vs Lynn
You are paying about $300k more for a 4BR in Hamilton, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $300k for two tiers of schooling.
Lynn is about 15 minutes closer to downtown Boston at peak. Over a decade of commuting that gap is worth more than most people price it at.
On tax, look past the rate: Lynn works out roughly $7,100 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Hamilton if you want the stronger schools of the two.
All Hamilton numbers →Choose Lynn if you want the lower price, or the commute matters most.
All Lynn numbers →Side by side
The better of the two is highlighted on each row. Where a row is not highlighted, the two are close enough that calling a winner would be false precision.
| Hamilton | Lynn | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | strong schoolsT2 | mixed schoolsT4 |
| MCAS percentile | 88th | 2nd |
| Niche district rank | 62nd of 236 | — |
| 4BR house | $950kT3 | $650kT2 |
| 2BR condo | $535k | $390k |
| Commute to Boston | 55 minT3 | 40 minT2 |
| MBTA rail | Commuter rail · ~52 min to terminal | Commuter rail · ~28 min to terminal |
| Tax rate | $14.50T3 | $10.30T2 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$13,800 | ≈$6,700 |
| 3BR rent | $3,123/mo | $3,080/mo |
Prices are estimates calibrated to the Zillow Home Value Index and Redfin; tax rates are FY2026 residential rates and the bill applies that rate to the town’s own median 4BR estimate; commutes take the rail leg from the MBTA timetable and still model the drive; rents are HUD FY2026 Small Area Fair Market Rents. School tiers are editorial and shown next to the state’s own MCAS figures. Data last reviewed — see the methodology. This comparison never uses demographics as an input.
