Compare towns
Ludlow vs Plainfield vs Rockland
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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Rockland has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
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 | Rockland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,904Highest |
15,141Lowest |
17,701 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
40.7±3.3 5% above U.S. |
| Ludlow and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rockland and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.7%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% |
3.3%±1.3Lowest 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±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$112,405±$12kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10k about the U.S. average |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$472,900±$21kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82 13% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,610±$255Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,918 58% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,487Highest 108% 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% |
51.7%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rockland 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rockland 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #175 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Plainfield School District | Rockland |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Plainfield High School | Rockland Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| 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.