Compare towns

Chicopee vs Scituate vs Ludlow

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).
Scituate has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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.

MeasureChicopeeScituateLudlow
People
Population
55,295Highest
19,365Lowest
20,904
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%
MA: +7.4%
+5.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-0.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.9±1.4Lowest
5% above MA
47.1±3.1Highest
18% above MA
44.3±1.8
11% above MA
Scituate 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%
22.2%±2.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
16.4%±2.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Scituate 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%
22.2%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
21.8%±2.5
MA: 17.9%
Scituate and Ludlow 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%
66.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
27%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±0.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
5.2%±1.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
Ludlow and Scituate 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
$136,732±$16kHighest
32% above MA
$84,838±$7k
18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,500±$8kLowest
51% below MA
$847,600±$25kHighest
51% above MA
$335,300±$10k
40% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,157±$50Lowest
34% below MA
$1,609±$311Highest
9% below MA
$1,223±$82
31% below MA
Scituate and Ludlow 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
$8,807Highest
47% above MA
$4,918
18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±5.6
MA: 51.8%
52.7%±10.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
50.7%±9.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Scituate 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%
2.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
6.8%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
87.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
77.5%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958Lowest
6 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
38 minHighest
31% above MA
20 minLowest
31% below MA
Work from home
8%±1.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
28%±4Highest
MA: 18.6%
14%±3.4
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #247 of 282 in MA #43 of 282 in MA #154 of 282 in MA
School district Chicopee Scituate Ludlow
High school in town Chicopee Comprehensive High School Scituate High School Ludlow Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2
11.3Highest
11.1Lowest
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.