Arlington, MA vs Lynn, MA

The cost of living difference between Arlington, MA and Lynn, MA is dramatic. Lynn is 37.1% cheaper than Arlington, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Arlington has a cost index of 173 while Lynn sits at 126, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Arlington is $2,043/month compared to $1,612/month in Lynn — a 27% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Lynn is more affordable at $472,600 median vs $885,000.

Median household income in Arlington is $141,440 compared to $74,715 in Lynn (+89.3%). While Arlington is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Arlington spend roughly 17.3% of their income on rent, less than the 25.9% in Lynn.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.5°F vs 49.9°F). Lynn receives more rainfall at 44.9" per year compared to 42.6" in Arlington.