Compare towns
Chicopee vs Ludlow vs Suffield vs Taunton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chicopee has the most affordable homes ($275k median).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Suffield has the highest household income ($119k).
Taunton has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
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 | Ludlow | Suffield | Taunton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 55,295 |
20,904 |
15,702Lowest |
60,433Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±1.4 8% above U.S. |
44.3±1.8 14% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
38.9±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Suffield and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Taunton and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ludlow and Chicopee 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
27% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ludlow and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,615±$6kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$84,838±$7k 5% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$79,283±$7k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,500±$8kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$335,300±$10k about the U.S. average |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$422,800±$9kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Taunton and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,157±$50Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,223±$82 13% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,324±$86 6% below U.S. |
| Suffield and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,918 58% above U.S. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$4,344 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Taunton and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 19% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield 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 | #247 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #253 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chicopee | Ludlow | Suffield School District | Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical · Taunton |
| High school in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Ludlow Senior High | Suffield High School | Taunton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
11.1 |
10.9Lowest |
16.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.