Compare towns
Ludlow vs Maynard vs Springfield 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).
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
Wilbraham has the most homeowners (88.8%).
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 | Maynard | Springfield | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,904 |
10,712Lowest |
154,749Highest |
14,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
44.3±2.7 11% above MA |
| Maynard 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% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield 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% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest 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% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$122,051±$14k 17% above MA |
| Maynard and Wilbraham 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 |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$416,000±$25k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,175±$241 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,918 18% below MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,658 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield 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% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Maynard | Springfield | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Maynard High | Springfield Central High | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
9.7Lowest |
12.2 |
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.