Compare towns
Chicopee vs Springfield vs Westminster vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the youngest population (median age 33.7).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
Ludlow has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Springfield | Westminster | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 55,295 |
154,749Highest |
8,374Lowest |
20,904 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
| Westminster 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Westminster 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$106,331±$22kHighest about the MA average |
$84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
| Westminster and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$422,000±$36kHighest 25% below MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,157±$50 34% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 36% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,973Highest 17% below MA |
$4,918 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.3% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 27% below MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
27 minHighest 7% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ludlow and Westminster 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chicopee | Springfield | Ashburnham-Westminster | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Springfield Central High | Oakmont Regional High School | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.2 |
13.6Highest |
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.