Compare towns
Springfield vs Bow vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Bow | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
8,335Lowest |
20,904 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
44.3±1.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Ludlow and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ludlow and Bow 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Springfield and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$84,838±$7k 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$335,300±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,223±$82 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$4,918 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #276 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Bow School District | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Bow High School | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
12.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.