Compare towns
Springfield vs Berlin vs Ludlow vs Lowell
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).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% 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 | Springfield | Berlin | Ludlow | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
3,378Lowest |
20,904 |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
| Berlin and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$4,918 18% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Berlin 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% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 31% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #276 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Berlin-Boylston | Ludlow | Lowell |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | None in town | Ludlow Senior High | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | 11.1Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.