Compare towns
Ludlow vs Plainfield vs Chicopee 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 most people working from home (14%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Chicopee has the most renters (44.3% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Chicopee | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,904 |
15,141 |
55,295Highest |
14,572Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.9±1.4 8% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.4 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% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$62,615±$6kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$122,051±$14kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10k about the U.S. average |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$274,500±$8k 17% below U.S. |
$416,000±$25kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,157±$50Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
| Ludlow and Plainfield 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. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,658Highest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilbraham and Chicopee 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±1.8Lowest 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #247 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Plainfield School District | Chicopee | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Plainfield High School | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
11.2 |
14.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.