Compare towns
Cavendish vs Danvers vs Reading 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
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k median).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ludlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Cavendish | Danvers | Reading | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
28,098Highest |
699Lowest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
52.2±6.2Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Ludlow and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ludlow and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ludlow and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Danvers and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$370,200±$46k 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,112±$151 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$4,890 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | — | #91 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | 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.