Compare towns
Belchertown vs Ogunquit vs Ludlow vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Pepperell has the highest household income ($124k).
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 | Belchertown | Ogunquit | Ludlow | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,393 |
1,379Lowest |
20,904Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±1.6 13% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.3±1.8 14% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belchertown and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,068±$15k 34% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$84,838±$7kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,300±$12k 12% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$335,300±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$230 9% below U.S. |
— | $1,223±$82Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Pepperell and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,810 86% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,918 58% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #168 of 282 in MA | — | #154 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Belchertown | — | Ludlow | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Belchertown High | — | Ludlow Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.