Compare towns
Ludlow vs Gardner vs Wilbraham
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%).
Wilbraham has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,904 |
21,148Highest |
14,572Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wilbraham and Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4Highest 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% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$122,051±$14kHighest 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$416,000±$25kHighest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,175±$241 33% below MA |
| Ludlow and Wilbraham 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 |
$6,658Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8%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 |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest 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 | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Gardner | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Gardner High | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
13.5 |
14.2Highest |
| 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.