Compare towns
Ludlow vs Northbridge 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).
Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Northbridge | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,904Highest |
16,458 |
14,572Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wilbraham and Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
51.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,838±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$122,051±$14kHighest 17% above MA |
| Wilbraham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA |
$448,600±$15kHighest 20% below MA |
$416,000±$25k 26% below MA |
| Northbridge and Wilbraham 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 |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA |
| Ludlow and Northbridge 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 |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,658Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wilbraham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer 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 |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Northbridge 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Northbridge | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Northbridge High | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.8Lowest |
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.