Compare towns
Ludlow vs Hardwick vs Ware 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).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Wilbraham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Hardwick | Ware | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,904Highest |
2,684Lowest |
6,369 |
14,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.7 11% above MA |
| Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Wilbraham 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% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham and Hardwick 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% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick 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 |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$122,051±$14kHighest 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$416,000±$25kHighest 26% below MA |
| Wilbraham and Hardwick 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 |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% 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 |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,658Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Quabbin | — | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | None in town | — | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | — | 14.2Highest |
| 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.