Compare towns
Ludlow vs Reading vs Springfield
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 oldest population (median age 44.3).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% 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 | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,904Lowest |
25,612 |
154,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below 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%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Reading 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest 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% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,918 18% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #154 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Reading | Springfield |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Reading Memorial High | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.1 |
12.2Highest |
| 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.