Compare towns
Ludlow vs Thompson 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 expensive homes ($335k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Chicopee has the most renters (44.3% rent).
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 | Thompson | Chicopee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,904 |
9,337Lowest |
55,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.9±1.4Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chicopee and Ludlow 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ludlow and Chicopee 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 5% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$62,615±$6kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Thompson and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$274,500±$8kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,157±$50 18% below U.S. |
| Ludlow and Chicopee 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$3,847 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ludlow and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #247 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Thompson School District | Chicopee |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Chicopee Comprehensive High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
7.9Lowest |
11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.