Compare towns
Ludlow vs Killingly vs Chicopee vs Belchertown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Chicopee has the most renters (44.3% rent).
Belchertown has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Killingly | Chicopee | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,904 |
17,867 |
55,295Highest |
15,393Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.9±1.4 8% above U.S. |
43.9±1.6 13% above U.S. |
| Ludlow and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ludlow and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belchertown and Killingly 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 5% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$62,615±$6kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$108,068±$15kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10k about the U.S. average |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$274,500±$8kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$371,300±$12kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82 13% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,157±$50 18% below U.S. |
$1,292±$230Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Belchertown and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,918 58% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,810Highest 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Belchertown and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #154 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #247 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Chicopee | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Killingly High School | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.1Lowest |
11.2 |
11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.