Compare towns

Chicopee vs Stoneham 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).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Ludlow has the most homeowners (77.5%).

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.

MeasureChicopeeStonehamLudlow
People
Population
55,295Highest
23,355
20,904Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%
MA: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-0.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.9±1.4Lowest
5% above MA
42.2±2.2
6% above MA
44.3±1.8Highest
11% above MA
Ludlow and Stoneham 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%
20.8%±2.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
16.4%±2.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Stoneham 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%
20.4%±2.2
MA: 17.9%
21.8%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
Ludlow and Stoneham 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%
55.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
27%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±0.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±1.4
MA: 7.9%
5.2%±1.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
Ludlow and Stoneham 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
$113,964±$10kHighest
10% above MA
$84,838±$7k
18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,500±$8kLowest
51% below MA
$671,900±$26kHighest
20% above MA
$335,300±$10k
40% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,157±$50Lowest
34% below MA
$2,035±$142Highest
15% above MA
$1,223±$82
31% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,847Lowest
36% below MA
$6,523Highest
9% above MA
$4,918
18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±5.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
41.9%±8.2Lowest
MA: 51.8%
50.7%±9.5
MA: 51.8%
Chicopee and Ludlow 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%
5.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
6.8%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
71%
MA: 62.5%
77.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958Lowest
6 yrs older than MA
1964Highest
same as MA
1964Highest
same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
27% below MA
28 minHighest
4% below MA
20 minLowest
31% below MA
Work from home
8%±1.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
24.6%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
14%±3.4
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #247 of 282 in MA #117 of 282 in MA #154 of 282 in MA
School district Chicopee Stoneham Ludlow
High school in town Chicopee Comprehensive High School Stoneham High Ludlow Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2Highest
10.7Lowest
11.1
On TownTapestry
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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.