Compare towns
Ludlow vs Webster vs Chicopee
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 most people working from home (14%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Chicopee has the most affordable homes ($275k median).
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 | Webster | Chicopee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,904 |
17,748Lowest |
55,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Chicopee 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% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow and Webster 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% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA |
| Ludlow and Webster 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 |
$361,500±$12kHighest 36% below MA |
$274,500±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$1,157±$50Lowest 34% below MA |
| Webster and Ludlow 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 |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$3,847Lowest 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Chicopee 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% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
17.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
21 min 27% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #154 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Webster | Chicopee |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Bartlett High School | Chicopee Comprehensive High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.6Highest |
11.2 |
| 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.