Compare towns
Ludlow vs Petersham 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).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
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 | Petersham | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,904Highest |
1,185Lowest |
14,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5% MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Lowest 11% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
44.3±2.7Lowest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Petersham and Wilbraham 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% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
51.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,838±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
$122,051±$14kHighest 17% above MA |
| Wilbraham 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±$20k 30% below MA |
$416,000±$25kHighest 26% below MA |
| Wilbraham and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$1,175±$241Lowest 33% 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 |
$6,658Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest 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% |
8.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% 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 |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest 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 | — | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Petersham | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 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.