Compare towns
Ludlow vs Springfield vs Ware vs Belchertown
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).
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
Belchertown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Ware | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,904 |
154,749Highest |
10,048Lowest |
15,393 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
43.9±1.6 10% above MA |
| Ludlow and Belchertown 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
21%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow and Belchertown 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% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
47.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Belchertown 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 |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$108,068±$15kHighest 4% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$371,300±$12kHighest 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,292±$230Highest 27% below MA |
| Belchertown and Ludlow 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 |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$5,810Highest 3% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.4%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Springfield 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% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
87.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #154 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Springfield | Ware | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Springfield Central High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.2Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.9 |
| 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.