Compare towns
Ludlow vs Reading vs Chicopee
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).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Chicopee has the most renters (44.3% rent).
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 | Reading | Chicopee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,904Lowest |
25,612 |
55,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
41.9±1.4Lowest 5% above MA |
| Ludlow and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Ludlow and Chicopee 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 18% below MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$274,500±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,157±$50Lowest 34% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,918 18% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$3,847Lowest 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Chicopee 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
21 min 27% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #154 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Reading | Chicopee |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Reading Memorial High | Chicopee Comprehensive High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.2 |
| 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.