Compare towns
Springfield vs Ayer vs Lynn vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Lynn has the most expensive homes ($510k median).
Ludlow has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Springfield | Ayer | Lynn | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
8,645Lowest |
101,709 |
20,904 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
$84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
| Ayer and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
| Lynn and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$5,384Highest 10% below MA |
$4,918 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 31% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Ludlow 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Ayer Shirley School District | Lynn | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Lynn English High | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
11.5 |
15.0Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.