Compare towns
Ludlow vs Gardner vs Granby
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Granby has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Gardner | Granby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,904 |
21,148Highest |
6,080Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
46.3±4.2Highest 16% above MA |
| Granby and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.7%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow and Granby 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% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.8%±3.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Granby 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 |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$119,297±$33kHighest 15% above MA |
| Granby and Ludlow 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 |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$352,600±$16kHighest 37% below MA |
| Granby and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
— |
| Ludlow and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,918 18% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$5,572Highest 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Granby 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% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
23 min 20% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ludlow and Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #259 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Gardner | Granby |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Gardner High | Granby Jr Sr High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
13.5Highest |
11.0Lowest |
| 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.