Compare towns
Andover vs Hadley vs Windham vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Hadley has the most expensive homes ($511k median).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Ludlow has the oldest population (median age 52.2).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Andover | Hadley | Windham | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
5,306Highest |
594Lowest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
45.8±7.1 18% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
52.2±6.2Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Ludlow and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±6.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hadley and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$119,259±$12kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Hadley and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$511,000±$43kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$370,200±$46k 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$1,402±$132Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,112±$151Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Hadley and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 66% above U.S. |
$5,271 69% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,890Lowest 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #116 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Hadley | — | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | — | Hopkins Academy | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.