About Lynnfield

Lynnfield is a friendly community that is well known for its civic, cultural and charitable spirit. Town government and community groups rely on the town’s spirit of volunteerism.

At the 2010 census, the town population was 11,596. It is a primarily suburban community, with two major highways traversing the town and providing easy access to the region’s employment centers, as well as cultural, recreational and educational opportunities. It is primarily a residential community, with business districts located along the highways. Housing is primarily single-family homes, with some townhouse and apartment units. The town center is a traditional New England green, with the 1714 Meeting House the visual centerpiece of the town common.

Lynnfield initially consisted of two separate villages with a single governing body.  The town of Lynnfield was first settled in 1638 and was made a district separate from Lynn in 1782.  It was later officially incorporated in 1814.

According to the US Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 10.5 square miles, of which 9.9 square miles (25.6 km2) is land and 0.58 square miles (1.5 km2), or 5.58%, is water. The Ipswich River forms the northern border of the town, and several brooks cross through town. Several lakes and ponds dot the town, including Suntaug Lake, Reedy Meadow and Pillings Pond. A portion of the Lynn Woods Reservation is located in the southeast corner of town, and in the northwest part of town lies part of Camp Curtis Guild, a Massachusetts National Guard base which also contains lands in the neighboring towns.

Lynnfield lies along the western border of Essex County, and is bordered by the Middlesex County towns of Wakefield to the southwest, Reading to the west, and North Reading to the north and northwest. Within Essex County, the town is bordered by Peabody to the northeast, Lynn to the southeast, and Saugus to the south.

Interstate 95 and Route 128 pass concurrently through town twice, becoming separate just over the Peabody line. U.S. Route 1 and Massachusetts Route 129 also enter the town concurrently, separating in the southeast corner of town, at the Lynnfield Tunnel. There is no commuter rail service within town; the nearest service can be found on the Haverhill/Reading Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail just west of town in Wakefield. The nearest airport is Beverly Municipal Airport to the east; the nearest national and international air service can be found at Boston's Logan International Airport.

Local Government

Lynnfield uses the open town meeting model common in New England with a three-member Select Board overseeing the operation of the town. The Town Charter was adopted in 1971. There are two charter-called town meetings during the year: the annual town meeting, which occurs on the last Monday in April, and which adopts the annual town budget, and a fall town meeting which occurs on the third Monday in October, which frequently takes up zoning and bylaw proposals. Other elected positions include Town Moderator, a five-member School Committee, a five-member Planning Board, a five-member Board of Library Trustees, and a three-member Board of Assessors. Many appointed committees also help govern the town, which relies on volunteers among its citizens. Among the elected town officials, only the members of the Select Board and Board of Assessors are paid annual stipends.

State and Federal Representation

Lynnfield is part of Massachusetts's 6th congressional district.   In the Massachusetts Senate, Lynnfield lies within the Third Essex district and in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, the town is located within the 20th Middlesex district.

Town Services

The Town is proud to provide excellent police and fire services.  Street maintenance, curbside solid waste and recycling services, hazardous waste and drop-off recycling, and snow removal are administered by our Department of Public Works.  

Town Hall, located at 55 Summer Street, houses our administrative offices: The Town Administrator, Town Accountant, Town Clerk’s Office, Department of Public Works, Assessors Office, Tax Collector, Recreation Department, Board of Health, Planning, Conservation, Building/Zoning, and Veterans’ Services. The town’s School Department, Council on Aging and Public Library are located in their own buildings. The town also operates two nine-hole public golf courses. 

Lynnfield Public Schools operates area public schools. Lynnfield High School is the district's public high school. The area is also served by Lynnfield Middle School, Huckleberry Hill Elementary School and Summer Street Elementary School.

The Lynnfield Public Library provides a full range of services to its patrons.  The Recreation Department operates recreational opportunities for all ages.  A vibrant Senior Center, located at 525 Salem Street, provides services, programs, and assistance to seniors age 60+.

Lynnfield is divided into two water districts.  The Lynnfield Water District and the Lynnfield Center Water District.  Both water districts are chartered through the state legislature and exist separately from the town government. Each holds its own annual meeting and electes its own Board of Water Commissioners.