Compare towns
Ludlow vs Royalston vs Ware
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).
Royalston has the most homeowners (96%).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
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 | Royalston | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,904Highest |
1,460Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5% MA: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
47.8±14.6Highest 20% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| Royalston and Ludlow 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% |
21.2%±10Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Royalston and Ware 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%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow and Royalston 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% |
28.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Royalston 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 18% below MA |
$102,109±$8kHighest about the MA average |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$346,300±$18kHighest 38% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Royalston and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$1,650±$412Highest 6% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Royalston and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,918Highest 18% below MA |
$3,196Lowest 47% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
85.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Royalston and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
38 minHighest 32% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.7%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ludlow and Ware 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Athol-Royalston | Ware |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.