What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Belchertown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ludlow	Belchertown
People
Population	20,904Highest	15,393Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA	43.9±1.6Lowest 10% above MA
	Ludlow and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.5%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Belchertown and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%	21%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Ludlow and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27%Lowest MA: 47.3%	47.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Belchertown and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,838±$7kLowest 18% below MA	$108,068±$15kHighest 4% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA	$371,300±$12kHighest 34% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,223±$82Lowest 31% below MA	$1,292±$230Highest 27% below MA
	Belchertown and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,918Lowest 18% below MA	$5,810Highest 3% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Belchertown and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Lowest MA: 10%	8.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 31% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	14%±3.4 MA: 18.6%	14%±3.3 MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#154 of 282 in MA	#168 of 282 in MA
School district	Ludlow	Belchertown
High school in town	Ludlow Senior High	Belchertown High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	11.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.