What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Wilbraham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ludlow	Wilbraham
People
Population	20,904Highest	14,572Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±1.8 11% above MA	44.3±2.7 11% above MA
Kids under 18	16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	21.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	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 MA: 47.3%	51.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9%	5.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,838±$7kLowest 18% below MA	$122,051±$14kHighest 17% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA	$416,000±$25kHighest 26% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA	$1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA
	Ludlow and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,918Lowest 18% below MA	$6,658Highest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Wilbraham and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Highest MA: 10%	4.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	88.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 31% below MA	27 minHighest 9% below MA
Work from home	14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6%	12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ludlow and Wilbraham 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	#88 of 282 in MA
School district	Ludlow	Hampden-Wilbraham
High school in town	Ludlow Senior High	Minnechaug Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	14.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.