City Comparison
Cambridge vs Lynn
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Cambridge scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Cambridge
Lynn
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Lynn is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
20% lower than in Cambridge.
Housing costs are a major driver: Cambridge's average rent is
27% higher than Lynn's.
| Metric | Cambridge | Lynn | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $3,100 | $2,450 | +27% |
| Groceries | $520 | $400 | +30% |
| Utilities | $210 | $180 | +17% |
| Transport | $100 | $90 | +11% |
| Healthcare | $280 | $230 | +22% |
| Monthly Total | $4,210 | $3,350 | +26% |
| Cost Index | 165 | 108 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Cambridge offers 23% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Lynn delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Cambridge is estimated at
$85,000 vs $65,000 in Lynn.
| Metric | Cambridge | Lynn |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $92,000 | $75,043 |
| Salary Needed | $85,000 | $65,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 55,758 idx | 69,484 idx |
| Household Income | $118,500 | $75,043 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.7°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Lynn sees 1.4 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Cambridge | Lynn |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 51.00°F | 50.30°F |
| Summer High | 80.50°F | 77.80°F |
| Winter Low | 20.60°F | 21.20°F |
| Rainfall | 40.20 in | 41.10 in |
| Snowfall | 25.00 in | 26.40 in |
| Sunny Days | 250 | 245 |
| Humidity | 64.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Cambridge has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,000 minutes (33 hours) per year compared to Lynn.
Cambridge scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Cambridge leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Cambridge | Lynn |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 28 min | 32 min |
| Transit Score | 85.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Walkability | 91.0/100 | 70.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 58.00 | 52.00 |
| Car Dependency | Low | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Cambridge is the larger city
— approximately 1.1x the population of Lynn.
From a growth perspective, Cambridge is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Cambridge has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Cambridge | Lynn |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 118,258 | 104,236 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.80% | 0.64% |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 36.5 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 5.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Cambridge
Advantages
World-class public transit and pedestrian infrastructure with a Walk Score over 90 per Redfin 2025 data
Global epicenter for biotechnology and life sciences careers centered around Kendall Square per BLS 2025 reports
Home to two top-tier global universities (Harvard and MIT) driving an intellectually vibrant cultural scene
Exceptionally low violent crime rate relative to national urban averages per FBI crime data 2025
Extensive green spaces, including miles of accessible waterfront along the Charles River Esplanade
Drawbacks
Extremely high cost of living, with average rents exceeding 3,000 USD per Zillow 2025 market reports
Severe housing shortage and hyper-competitive real estate market driving up purchase prices
Heavy traffic congestion and limited street parking for vehicle owners
State and local tax burdens that trend higher than the national average
Significant seasonal population fluctuations driven by the academic calendar
Lynn
Advantages
Median rent of $2,450 offers significant savings compared to Boston's metropolitan averages while remaining close to the coast
MBTA Commuter Rail provides fast under-20-minute direct access from Central Square to Boston's North Station
Lynn Woods Reservation offers 2,200 acres of pristine public forest, hiking trails, and outdoor recreation
Exceptionally diverse cultural scene featuring authentic global cuisine and vibrant public street art festivals
Proximity to major employment anchors including GE Aerospace and regional healthcare networks
Drawbacks
Overall cost of living tracks roughly 8% above the national average due to regional housing pressures
Traffic congestion along major commuter arteries like Route 1A can cause heavy delays during peak hours
Property crime and localized urban safety challenges require ongoing municipal and police intervention
portions of the housing stock are older and may require significant maintenance or energy retrofitting
Public school performance metrics have historically faced challenges typical of urban Gateway Cities
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Cambridge
#424Massachusetts, USA
57.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$3,100
Avg Salary
$92,000
Cost Index
165
Commute
28 min
Transit Score
85.0/100
Walkability
91.0/100
Sunny Days
250/yr
Avg Temp
51.00°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
88
Business
92
Lynn
#499Massachusetts, USA
52.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,450
Avg Salary
$75,043
Cost Index
108
Commute
32 min
Transit Score
40.0/100
Walkability
70.0/100
Sunny Days
245/yr
Avg Temp
50.30°F
Pop. Growth
0.64%
Unemployment
5.20%
Livability
74
Business
70
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Cambridge and Lynn.
Open Cost Calculator