Compare towns

Chicopee vs Ludlow vs Upton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chicopee has the most renters (44.3% rent).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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.

MeasureChicopeeLudlowUpton
People
Population
55,295Highest
20,904
8,189Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%
MA: +7.4%
-0.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.9±1.4Lowest
5% above MA
44.3±1.8
11% above MA
46.4±4.8Highest
16% above MA
Upton 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
MA: 19.4%
16.4%±2.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
23.2%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
Upton 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%
21.8%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
20.7%±4.9
MA: 17.9%
Ludlow and Upton 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%
27%
MA: 47.3%
53.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
5.2%±1.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Ludlow and Chicopee 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
40% below MA
$84,838±$7k
18% below MA
$155,508±$33kHighest
50% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,500±$8kLowest
51% below MA
$335,300±$10k
40% below MA
$576,700±$41kHighest
about the MA average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,157±$50
34% below MA
$1,223±$82Highest
31% below MA
$948±$599Lowest
46% 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
$4,918
18% below MA
$8,376Highest
40% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±5.6
MA: 51.8%
50.7%±9.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±31Highest
MA: 51.8%
Upton 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
MA: 10%
6.8%
MA: 10%
3.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
77.5%
MA: 62.5%
86.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958Lowest
6 yrs older than MA
1964
same as MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
27% below MA
20 minLowest
31% below MA
35 minHighest
22% above MA
Work from home
8%±1.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
14%±3.4
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±5.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #247 of 282 in MA #154 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA
School district Chicopee Ludlow Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town Chicopee Comprehensive High School Ludlow Senior High Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2Highest
11.1Lowest
11.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.