Compare towns
Ludlow vs Ware vs Warren
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).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Warren has the most renters (35.5% 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 | Ware | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,904Highest |
10,048 |
5,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
| Ludlow and Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Warren and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ludlow and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,838±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| Ludlow and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10kHighest 40% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
| Ludlow and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
| Ludlow and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,918Highest 18% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,530 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Ludlow 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ludlow and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Ware | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
11.1Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.