Compare towns
Ludlow vs Dedham vs Chicopee vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ludlow has the most homeowners (77.5%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
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 | Ludlow | Dedham | Chicopee | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,904Lowest |
25,237 |
55,295 |
154,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
| Dedham and Ludlow 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% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.9% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,157±$50 34% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,918 18% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$3,847 36% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.3% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
21 min 27% below MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Ludlow 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 | #154 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Dedham | Chicopee | Springfield |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Dedham High | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.4Lowest |
11.2 |
12.2Highest |
| 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.