Compare towns
Ludlow vs Everett vs Wilbraham vs Chicopee
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%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Wilbraham has the highest household income ($122k).
Chicopee has the most affordable homes ($275k 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 | Ludlow | Everett | Wilbraham | Chicopee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,904 |
50,045 |
14,572Lowest |
55,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8% MA: +7.4% |
+0.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA |
41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Wilbraham and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
51.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett 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±$7k 18% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$122,051±$14kHighest 17% above MA |
$62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$416,000±$25k 26% below MA |
$274,500±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,175±$241 33% below MA |
$1,157±$50Lowest 34% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,918 18% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$6,658Highest 11% above MA |
$3,847Lowest 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
21 min 27% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ludlow and Wilbraham 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Everett | Hampden-Wilbraham | Chicopee |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Everett High | Minnechaug Regional High | Chicopee Comprehensive High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.1 |
14.2Highest |
11.2 |
| 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.