Compare towns
Lawrence 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
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Ludlow has the most people working from home (14%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
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 | Lawrence | Ludlow | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 88,736 |
20,904Lowest |
154,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
33.7±0.5 16% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
27%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,433±$3k 42% below MA |
$84,838±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,918Highest 18% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.6% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 21% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #278 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lawrence | Ludlow | Springfield |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | Ludlow Senior High | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
12.2 |
| 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.