What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belchertown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Belchertown	Ludlow
People
Population	15,393Lowest	20,904Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±1.6Lowest 10% above MA	44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA
	Ludlow and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%	16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Belchertown and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Ludlow and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	27%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Belchertown and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,068±$15kHighest 4% above MA	$84,838±$7kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,300±$12kHighest 34% below MA	$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$230Highest 27% below MA	$1,223±$82Lowest 31% below MA
	Belchertown and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,810Highest 3% below MA	$4,918Lowest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%	50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Belchertown and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Highest MA: 10%	6.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	77.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	14%±3.3 MA: 18.6%	14%±3.4 MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#168 of 282 in MA	#154 of 282 in MA
School district	Belchertown	Ludlow
High school in town	Belchertown High	Ludlow Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.