Compare towns
Hampden vs Ludlow vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampden has the highest household income ($105k).
Ludlow has the most people working from home (14%).
Springfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Hampden | Ludlow | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,946Lowest |
20,904 |
154,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hampden and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,536±$16kHighest about the MA average |
$84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
| Hampden and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,200±$16kHighest 36% below MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
| Hampden and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,132±$107Lowest 36% below MA |
$1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
| Ludlow and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,181Highest 3% above MA |
$4,918 18% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.9%±42.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.5% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 11% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.9%±3.7 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ludlow and Hampden 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 | #199 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Ludlow | Springfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Ludlow Senior High | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.