Compare towns
Ludlow vs Sutton vs Chicopee 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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Chicopee has the most renters (44.3% 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 | Sutton | Chicopee | Belchertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,904 |
9,452Lowest |
55,295Highest |
15,393 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
41.9±1.4Lowest 5% above MA |
43.9±1.6 10% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Belchertown 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±$7k 18% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA |
$108,068±$15k 4% above MA |
| Sutton and Belchertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$274,500±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
$371,300±$12k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,157±$50Lowest 34% 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,847Lowest 36% below MA |
$5,810 3% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.4%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Belchertown and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.3%Highest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
21 min 27% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #154 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA | #168 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Sutton | Chicopee | Belchertown |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Sutton High School | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Belchertown High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.2 |
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.