AreaProfile

Compare

Salem vs Lynn

Which is the better fit for you?

Salem, MA
62
Area Score
Top 44% nationally
Lynn, MA
55
Area Score
Bottom 31% nationally

Salem receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.

Signals

Salem
Lynn
Opportunity
55 · Bottom 47%
vs
48 · Bottom 33%
Growth
73 · Top 13%
vs
53 · Top 44%
Climate
63 · Bottom 27%
vs
63 · Bottom 27%
Physical resilience
78 · Top 27%
vs
78 · Top 27%
Housing affordability
52 · Bottom 12%
vs
46 · Bottom 7%
Schools
40 · Bottom 35%
vs
23 · Bottom 14%
Access
98 · Top 15%
vs
99 · Top 14%
Economic stability
64 · Top 42%
vs
60 · Top 50%

Measured values

MetricSalemLynnSource period
Population44,795101,7092024 ACS 5-Year
Median household income$85,153$75,0432024 ACS 5-Year
Per capita income$50,339$35,5982024 ACS 5-Year
Population density5,401/sq mi9,471/sq mi2024 ACS 5-Year
Median home value$542,800$510,1002024 ACS 5-Year
Median gross rent$1,836$1,7222024 ACS 5-Year
Homeownership rate49.7%48.1%2024 ACS 5-Year
Unemployment rate4.3%4.5%June 2026
Employment change (year over year)-1.7%-1.7%June 2026
Bachelor's degree or higher47.8%24.1%2024 ACS 5-Year
Poverty rate12.1%13.8%2024 ACS 5-Year
Housing units permitted (12 months)17722912 months ending July 2026
Permits per 1,000 residents4.02.312 months ending July 2026
Permit change (year over year)378.4%32.4%12 months ending July 2026
Average July high82°F82°F1991-2020 Normals
Average January low20°F20°F1991-2020 Normals
Annual precipitation44.9"44.9"1991-2020 Normals
Distance to major airport11 mi8 miNASR current cycle
Average commute31.0 min33.8 min2024 ACS 5-Year
Median age39.336.52024 ACS 5-Year
Public schools12282024-25 school year
Students per teacher11.7812.252024-25 school year
Math proficiency19.5%13.4%2019-20 school year
Reading proficiency36.5%25.7%2019-20 school year

A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.

Physical risk tradeoff

Salem

Elevated or high exposure: coastal flooding, earthquake, hurricane.

Lynn

Elevated or high exposure: coastal flooding, earthquake, hurricane.

Your best match

Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.

Salem
65
Your Score
62
Area Score
Lynn
59
Your Score
55
Area Score

Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.

Full profiles: Salem, MA · Lynn, MA · How this is calculated: methodology

Salem vs Lynn: Location Comparison | AreaProfile