First-time buyer programs
MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Essex County. We check them with you before you shop.
MassHousing home loans
Living in Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city on Massachusetts Bay north of Boston, settled in 1629 and incorporated as a city in 1850. Its shoreline is split by the town of Nahant into Lynn Harbor to the south and Nahant Bay to the north, and its western edge holds Lynn Woods Reservation, one of the largest municipal parks in New England.
Lynn at a glance
- $10.30Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $6,031Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- 20-30 minDrive to Boston
- EssexCounty
Lynn's villages and zip codes
Lynn uses several ZIP codes across the city, including 01901, 01902, 01904, 01905 and 01910.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Lynn | 01901 | The central business and civic district around Central Square and Lynn Common, home to City Hall. |
| Wyoma | 01904 | A residential neighborhood in eastern Lynn. |
| Diamond District | 01902 | A neighborhood along Lynn Shore Drive known for large early-20th-century houses facing the ocean. |
| West Lynn | 01905 | The western section of the city near the Saugus line, including the Pine Hill and Brickyard areas. |
Things to do in Lynn, MA
Start with Lynn Woods Reservation and Lynn Shore Reservation and Lynn Beach, then 3 more below.
Lynn Woods Reservation
A roughly 2,200-acre municipal park with miles of wooded trails, rock formations and the Stone Tower observation point. It's described as one of the largest municipal parks in New England.
Pennybrook Rd / Great Woods Rd, Lynn, MA
Lynn Shore Reservation and Lynn Beach
An oceanfront park and beach along Lynn Shore Drive, part of the Metropolitan Park System, with a paved path popular for walking and running.
Lynn Shore Dr, Lynn, MA
High Rock Tower Reservation
A hilltop reservation with a stone observation tower offering views toward Boston and the harbor.
High Rock St, Lynn, MA
Lynn Museum & Lynn Arts
A museum and cultural center covering the city's history, including its shoe-manufacturing and early electrical-industry past.
590 Washington St, Lynn, MA
Fraser Field
A municipal baseball stadium that has hosted amateur and collegiate summer-league baseball.
Water St, Lynn, MA
More worth a visit
- Frederick Douglass ParkA downtown park on Exchange Street dedicated in 2021 to Frederick Douglass, who lived in Lynn from 1841 to 1848.
- Pine Grove CemeteryA large historic cemetery with mature landscaping, one of the larger cemeteries in the country.
A little history
Lynn was settled in 1629 as part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and was incorporated as a city on May 14, 1850, taking its name from King's Lynn in Norfolk, England.
By the early 20th century Lynn was a world leader in shoe manufacturing, with 234 factories producing more than a million pairs of shoes a day; a labor strike that began in the shoe factories in February 1860 became one of the largest of the early American labor movement.
Thomson-Houston Electric Company, based in Lynn, merged with Edison Electric in 1892 to form General Electric, which kept manufacturing operations in the city.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Lynn
Lynn Woods gives the western half of the city a large wooded reservation, while Lynn Shore Drive and Lynn Beach run along the Atlantic on the east side.
- Lynn Woods ReservationAbout 2,200 acres of trails, rock outcrops and the Stone Tower, on the city's western side.
- Lynn Shore ReservationOceanfront reservation and beach along Lynn Shore Drive.
- High Rock Tower ReservationHilltop park with a stone observation tower.
- Northern Strand Community TrailA shared-use rail trail connecting Lynn to several neighboring North Shore communities.
Where to eat in Lynn: restaurants and coffee
1 places in Lynn to try, including diner. No one paid to be listed.
Capitol Diner
Diner
A classic 1928 Worcester Lunch Car Company diner serving breakfast and lunch.
431 Union St, Lynn, MA 01901
Walkability and getting around Lynn
Downtown Lynn around Central Square and the Diamond District along Lynn Shore Drive have sidewalks and denser blocks that support walking, but most residential parts of the city are built around driving.
Drive times
- Boston, about 10 miles20-30 min
- Logan International Airport, about 12 miles20-30 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
Lynn station on the MBTA Commuter Rail Newburyport/Rockport Line provides service to Boston's North Station, and River Works station serves the GE Aviation plant. Multiple MBTA bus routes serve the city, and the MBTA ferry route F5 connects Lynn to downtown Boston. State Routes 1A, 107, 129 and 129A pass through the city; the nearest Interstate access is Route 128/I-95 in Lynnfield.
Lynn property taxes
Lynn's FY2026 residential tax rate is $10.30 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $19.64. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,030 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $6,031, on an average assessed value of $585,565.
Lynn's FY2026 tax rates
$10.30per $1,000, residential
- Residential$10.30 per $1,000
- Commercial, industrial, personal property$19.64 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$585,565
- Average single-family tax bill$6,031
- Motor vehicle excise (statewide)$25 per $1,000 of value
Source: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.
How the residential rate has changed
| Fiscal year | Residential rate |
|---|---|
| FY2022 | $12.43 |
| FY2023 | $11.15 |
| FY2024 | $10.53 |
| FY2025 | $10.36 |
| FY2026 | $10.30 |
Look up a Lynn property
- Property record cardsAssessed value, lot size and building details
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- City ClerkVital records and town records
- Assessors' officeQuestions about a value: 781-598-4000
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in Lynn
What we check on a Lynn purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, coastal flood zones, smoke certificate.
Check the flood zone first
Lynn's shoreline along Massachusetts Bay and Nahant Bay puts oceanfront areas, including parts of the Diamond District and Lynn Shore Drive, in FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for LynnSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Lynn Fire Department before the sale closes. Call 781-593-1234 to schedule.
Lynn Fire Department pageCheck FEMA flood maps near the shoreline
Lynn's oceanfront neighborhoods along Lynn Shore Drive and Nahant Bay fall within FEMA flood zones. We check the flood map before you make an offer on a property near the water.
Smoke and CO certificate required before closing
Massachusetts sellers need a smoke and carbon-monoxide detector certificate from the local fire department before a home sale can close. Schedule the inspection with the Lynn Fire Department early in the process.
All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. MassHousing limits and eligibility are set by MassHousing and change from time to time.
Thinking about buying in Lynn?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Lynn address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Lynn: utilities, trash and city hall
Who to call in Lynn: National Grid for power.
- ElectricNational Grid
- Natural gasNational Grid
- WaterLynn Water and Sewer Commission
- Sewer or septicLynn Water and Sewer Commission provides sewer service across most of the city.
- Trash and recyclingThe city collects trash weekly and recycling every other week on a set schedule by street, using wheeled carts that must be curbside by 7 AM on collection day.
- Registry of Motor VehiclesUpdate your address with the RMV within 30 days. Excise tax goes to the city or town where the car is garaged.Mass. RMV
City Hall offices and contacts
Lynn City Hall is at 3 City Hall Square, Lynn, MA 01901. Hours: Mon, Wed, Thu 8:30 AM-4:00 PM; Tue 8:30 AM-8:00 PM; Fri 8:30 AM-12:30 PM. Main line: 781-598-4000.
- City HallMain line and website781-598-4000
- City ClerkVital records and elections.781-598-4000
- AssessorsProperty values and assessments; online property data lookup.781-598-4000
- Treasurer/CollectorProperty tax billing and payment.781-598-4000
- Department of Public WorksTrash, recycling, roads and city infrastructure.781-586-8015
- Board of Health / Public Health DivisionPublic health, including Title 5 septic and well matters.781-598-4000 ext. 6836
- Lynn Fire DepartmentFire prevention and smoke/CO certificates for home sales.781-593-1234
- Lynn Public LibraryThe city's public library.
- Lynn Public SchoolsThe city's public school district.
Lynn, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Lynn, MA?
Lynn's FY2026 residential tax rate is $10.30 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $19.64. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.
How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Lynn?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $4,120 a year at $10.30 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Lynn have a split tax rate?
Yes. Homes pay $10.30 per $1,000 and commercial, industrial and personal property pay $19.64.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Lynn?
The average single-family tax bill in Lynn was $6,031 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $585,565.
What county is Lynn, MA in?
Lynn is in Essex County.
Is Lynn a city or a town?
Lynn is a city, incorporated in 1850.
What ZIP codes does Lynn use?
Lynn uses several ZIP codes, including 01901, 01902, 01904, 01905 and 01910.
Who supplies electricity in Lynn?
National Grid supplies electricity and natural gas in Lynn.
Is trash pickup curbside in Lynn?
Yes. The city collects trash weekly and recycling every other week by cart, on a schedule set by street.
How far is Lynn from Boston?
Lynn is about 10 miles from Boston, roughly a 20-30 minute drive, and also reachable by MBTA Commuter Rail from Lynn station.
Is there a train station in Lynn?
Yes. Lynn station on the MBTA Newburyport/Rockport Line runs to Boston's North Station.
Towns near Lynn
Neighbors of Lynn, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Lynn, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- City of Lynn official website: lynnma.gov
- City of Lynn - Assessors: lynnma.gov
- City of Lynn - Trash and Recycling Info: lynnma.gov
- City of Lynn - Public Health: lynnma.gov
- Lynn Fire Department: lynnfire.org
- Capitol Diner - Yelp: yelp.com
- Lynn Central Square photo, Wikimedia Commons: commons.wikimedia.org
- Tax rates and average single-family value and tax bill: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.
- Motor vehicle excise: M.G.L. c. 60A, $25 per $1,000 of value statewide.
- Walkability: Walk Score®, provided live by Walk Score.
- Photo: Marc N. Belanger (Marcbela), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.