Compare towns
Chicopee vs Holyoke vs Ware vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holyoke has the most renters (58.7% rent).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Ludlow has the highest household income ($85k).
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 | Chicopee | Holyoke | Ware | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 55,295Highest |
37,813 |
10,048Lowest |
20,904 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
40±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
| Ludlow and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Holyoke and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±1.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.9% MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
27%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ludlow and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$84,838±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
| Ludlow and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$335,300±$10kHighest 40% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,157±$50 34% below MA |
$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA |
| Ludlow and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847Lowest 36% below MA |
$4,065 32% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,918Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.3% MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7% MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 27% below MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
20 min 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ludlow and Ware 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 | #247 of 282 in MA | #281 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chicopee | Holyoke · Springfield | Ware | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Holyoke High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.