Hamilton vs Lynn
marks the Massachusetts median on each scale. The better of the two is picked out where the gap is big enough to call; where neither is, they are level.
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 14 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 $7,600 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
Some rows have no better. Town character describes a place rather than ranking it, and per-pupil spending tracks need rather than results, so neither is picked out.
SchoolsHamilton ahead on 5 of 9, 1 against
| Hamilton | Lynn | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | strong schoolsT2 | mixed schoolsT4 |
| MCAS achievement | 88th | 2nd |
| Student growth | 58th | 50th |
| Graduation rate | 97.3% | 75.6% |
| SchoolDigger rank | 47th of 361 | 347th of 361 |
| State accountability | Substantial progress toward targets | Moderate progress toward targets |
| Spending per pupil | $24,540 | $22,388 |
| Schools in the district | 4 | 24 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 13 | 42 |
What a home costsLynn ahead on 7 of 8
| Hamilton | Lynn | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $950kT3 | $650kT2 |
| 3BR townhouse | $720k | $525k |
| 2BR condo | $535k | $390k |
| 3BR home | $803k | $607k |
| 5+ BR home | $1.62M | $781k |
| 3BR rent | $3,233/mo | $3,180/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $264k | $172k |
| 10-year price growth | 5.5% a year | 7.2% a year |
What you pay the townLynn ahead on 2 of 4
| Hamilton | Lynn | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $15.04T4 | $10.30T2 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$14,300 | ≈$6,700 |
| Town spending per resident | $5,374 | $5,374 |
| Share of budget on schools | 62% | 47% |
Getting to workLynn ahead on 7 of 8
| Hamilton | Lynn | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 54 minT3 | 40 minT2 |
| MBTA rail | Commuter rail · ~52 min to terminal | Commuter rail · ~28 min to terminal |
| Miles from downtown | 21 mi | 9 mi |
| Rail to Downtown | 52 min | 28 min |
| Rail to Back Bay | 62 min | 38 min |
| Rail to Kendall Sq | 62 min | 40 min |
| Rail to the Seaport | 61 min | 40 min |
| Rail to Longwood | 77 min | 54 min |
Before kindergartenLynn ahead on 3 of 4
| Hamilton | Lynn | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 6 | 262 |
| Child care places | 379 | 4,913 |
| Centers vs family programs | 5 centers | 38 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 66 | 343 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| Hamilton | Lynn | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 7,561 | 101,253 |
| Energy | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Compact center | 4/10 | 9/10 |
| Family amenities | 7/10 | 5/10 |
| Culture | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Gathering places | 6/10 | 8/10 |
The tax bill is each town’s own rate on its own median 4BR, so a lower rate does not always mean a lower bill. School tiers are editorial, shown beside the state’s own MCAS figures rather than derived from them.
Prices calibrated to Zillow ZHVI and Redfin · FY2026 residential tax rates · rail leg from the MBTA timetable, drive modeled · rents are HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs · reviewed · methodology. Never uses demographics as an input.
