Compare towns
Ludlow vs Springfield vs Chicopee vs Wilbraham
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 most people working from home (14%).
Springfield has the youngest population (median age 33.7).
Wilbraham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Springfield | Chicopee | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,904 |
154,749Highest |
55,295 |
14,572Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
22.9% MA: 47.3% |
51.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
$122,051±$14kHighest 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
$416,000±$25kHighest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,157±$50 34% below MA |
$1,175±$241 33% below MA |
| Ludlow and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,918 18% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$3,847 36% below MA |
$6,658Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
17.3% MA: 10% |
4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
21 min 27% below MA |
27 minHighest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Ludlow and Wilbraham 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Springfield | Chicopee | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Springfield Central High | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.2 |
11.2 |
14.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.