Compare towns
Cavendish vs Upton vs Ludlow vs Whitingham
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Ludlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
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 | Upton | Ludlow | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242Lowest |
8,189Highest |
1,990 |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
52.2±6.2Highest 34% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
| Ludlow and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Whitingham 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% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$370,200±$46k 11% above U.S. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$1,112±$151Highest 21% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Ludlow and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,890 57% above U.S. |
$5,055 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
— | 7.8Lowest |
| 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.