Compare towns
Springfield vs Brookfield 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 kids (24.2% under 18).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Ludlow has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Brookfield | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
3,460Lowest |
20,904 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield 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% |
28.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Brookfield 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 49% below MA |
$81,250±$37k 22% below MA |
$84,838±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
| Ludlow and Brookfield 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 |
$341,900±$23kHighest 39% below MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
| Brookfield and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA |
| Ludlow and Springfield 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 |
$5,092Highest 15% below MA |
$4,918 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Brookfield 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 31% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ludlow and Brookfield 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Brookfield | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | None in town | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.