Compare towns
Chicopee vs Upton vs Ludlow vs Holyoke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Holyoke has the most renters (58.7% rent).
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 | Upton | Ludlow | Holyoke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 55,295Highest |
8,189Lowest |
20,904 |
37,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5% MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
40±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Holyoke 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±1.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow and Upton 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% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
25.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Ludlow and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,157±$50 34% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA |
$1,021±$60 42% below MA |
| Ludlow and Chicopee 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,918 18% below MA |
$4,065 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.5% MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 27% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #247 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA | #281 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chicopee | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ludlow | Holyoke · Springfield |
| High school in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Blackstone Valley | Ludlow Senior High | Holyoke High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
11.2 |
11.1Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| 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.