Compare towns
Ludlow vs Pawtucket vs Wilbraham
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).
Pawtucket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Wilbraham has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Pawtucket | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,904 |
75,893Highest |
14,572Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
37.1±0.8Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.3±2.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pawtucket 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 5% above U.S. |
$68,310±$4kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$122,051±$14kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10k about the U.S. average |
$325,500±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$416,000±$25kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,208±$39 15% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Ludlow and Pawtucket 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. |
$4,115Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$6,658Highest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #35 of 38 in RI | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | William E. Tolman High | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
14.6Highest |
14.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.