Compare towns
Ludlow vs Petersham vs Granby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ludlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.5%).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
Granby has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Petersham | Granby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,904Highest |
1,185Lowest |
6,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Lowest 11% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
46.3±4.2 16% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.7%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Ludlow and Granby 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% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.5%±4.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.8%±3.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Granby 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±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
$119,297±$33kHighest 15% above MA |
| Granby and Petersham 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 |
$392,400±$20kHighest 30% below MA |
$352,600±$16k 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
— |
| Petersham and Ludlow 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 |
$4,636Lowest 23% below MA |
$5,572Highest 7% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Granby 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% |
8.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.2% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
23 min 20% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham 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 | — | #259 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Petersham | Granby |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | None in town | Granby Jr Sr High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 11.0Lowest |
| 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.