Compare towns
Ludlow vs Plainville vs Springfield
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 expensive homes ($335k median).
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
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 | Plainville | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,904 |
17,551Lowest |
154,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ludlow and Plainville 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% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Springfield and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,838±$7kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Ludlow and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$254,000±$14k 24% below U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,144±$55 19% below U.S. |
| Ludlow and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,918Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield 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% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 20% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ludlow and Plainville 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Springfield |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Plainville High School | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.4 |
12.2Highest |
| 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.