Compare towns
Ludlow vs Orange 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).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k 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 | Orange | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,904Highest |
7,573Lowest |
14,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wilbraham and Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$122,051±$14kHighest 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$416,000±$25kHighest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% 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 |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,658Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest 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% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Ludlow and Wilbraham 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
9.0Lowest |
14.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.