Compare towns

Chicopee vs Maynard vs Ludlow vs Springfield

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Ludlow has the most homeowners (77.5%).
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% 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.

MeasureChicopeeMaynardLudlowSpringfield
People
Population
55,295
10,712Lowest
20,904
154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%
MA: +7.4%
+6.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-0.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+1.9%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.9±1.4
5% above MA
45.3±4.3Highest
13% above MA
44.3±1.8
11% above MA
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
Maynard 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%
16.9%±4.3
MA: 19.4%
16.4%±2.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
24.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
19.5%±1.4
MA: 17.9%
18.2%±3.3
MA: 17.9%
21.8%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
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%
MA: 47.3%
64.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
27%
MA: 47.3%
20.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
3.5%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.2%±1.7
MA: 7.9%
7.5%±0.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$62,615±$6k
40% below MA
$124,067±$16kHighest
19% above MA
$84,838±$7k
18% below MA
$52,656±$2kLowest
49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,500±$8k
51% below MA
$527,400±$31kHighest
6% below MA
$335,300±$10k
40% below MA
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,157±$50
34% below MA
$1,800±$148Highest
about the MA average
$1,223±$82
31% below MA
$1,144±$55Lowest
35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,847
36% below MA
$8,266Highest
38% above MA
$4,918
18% below MA
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±5.6
MA: 51.8%
44.9%±9.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
50.7%±9.5
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±3.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
Springfield 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%
8.3%
MA: 10%
6.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
25.8%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.7%
MA: 62.5%
75%
MA: 62.5%
77.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
49.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958
6 yrs older than MA
1963
1 yr older than MA
1964Highest
same as MA
1952Lowest
12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
27% below MA
32 minHighest
9% above MA
20 minLowest
31% below MA
20 min
31% below MA
Work from home
8%±1.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.9%±7.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
14%±3.4
MA: 18.6%
8.4%±0.9
MA: 18.6%
Maynard 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 #166 of 282 in MA #154 of 282 in MA #276 of 282 in MA
School district Chicopee — Ludlow Springfield
High school in town Chicopee Comprehensive High School — Ludlow Senior High Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2
—
11.1Lowest
12.2Highest
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.