Compare towns
Chicopee vs Milton vs Springfield vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Springfield has the youngest population (median age 33.7).
Ludlow has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Milton | Springfield | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 55,295 |
28,587 |
154,749Highest |
20,904Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
| Ludlow and Chicopee 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% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Milton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Highest 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% |
71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,157±$50 34% below MA |
$1,474±$281Highest 16% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
| Milton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 36% below MA |
$9,677Highest 61% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,918 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5 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% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 27% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #247 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chicopee | Milton | Springfield | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Milton High | Springfield Central High | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.4Highest |
12.2 |
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.