Compare towns
Ludlow vs Dudley 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 people working from home (14%).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% 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 | Ludlow | Dudley | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,904 |
11,929Lowest |
154,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
| Ludlow and Dudley 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% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Dudley 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% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,838±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
| Ludlow and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
| Ludlow and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,918Highest 18% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest 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 | 6.8% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
27 minHighest 6% below MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ludlow and Dudley 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Springfield |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
14.3Highest |
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.