Compare towns
Ludlow vs Springfield vs Woonsocket vs Chicopee
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 most people working from home (14%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Woonsocket | Chicopee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,904Lowest |
154,749Highest |
43,521 |
55,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
41.9±1.4 8% above U.S. |
| Ludlow and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ludlow and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,838±$7kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
$62,615±$6k 22% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$274,500±$8k 17% below U.S. |
| Ludlow and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,157±$50 18% below U.S. |
| Ludlow and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,918Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
$3,847 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±1.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #154 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #247 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Springfield | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Chicopee |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Springfield Central High | Woonsocket High School | Chicopee Comprehensive High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.2 |
15.2Highest |
11.2 |
| 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.