Compare towns
Ludlow vs Suffield vs Wolcott 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).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
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 | Suffield | Wolcott | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,904Highest |
15,702 |
16,279 |
14,572Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.4±2.5 14% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Wolcott 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Wolcott 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% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.8 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% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wolcott 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±$7kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$110,850±$10k 37% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Wilbraham and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10k about the U.S. average |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$326,200±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,464±$913Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Wolcott and Suffield 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. |
$5,799 86% above U.S. |
$6,658Highest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.8%±24.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilbraham and Suffield 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% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4% 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. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield and Ludlow 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #76 of 149 in CT | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Suffield School District | Wolcott School District | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Suffield High School | Wolcott High School | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.9 |
10.1Lowest |
14.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.