Compare towns
Ludlow vs Worcester vs Wilbraham
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).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Wilbraham has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Worcester | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,904 |
207,055Highest |
14,572Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wilbraham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest 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% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
51.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$122,051±$14kHighest 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$416,000±$25kHighest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,918 18% below MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$6,658Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
27 minHighest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | South High Community | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
14.6Highest |
14.2 |
| 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.