Compare towns
Ludlow vs Somers vs Suffield vs Wilbraham
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).
Somers has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Somers | Suffield | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,904Highest |
10,308Lowest |
15,702 |
14,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 14% above U.S. |
43.1±2.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Somers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,838±$7kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$124,705±$15kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% above U.S. |
| Somers and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$395,800±$21k 19% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Wilbraham and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82 13% below U.S. |
$1,184±$346 16% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Suffield and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,918Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$6,658Highest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±13.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilbraham and Somers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield and Somers 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 | #66 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Somers School District | Suffield School District | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Somers High School | Suffield High School | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
7.7Lowest |
10.9 |
14.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.