Compare towns
Springfield vs Chaplin 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 kids (24.2% under 18).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Ludlow has the most expensive homes ($335k median).
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 | Chaplin | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
2,070Lowest |
20,904 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
44.3±1.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Ludlow and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ludlow and Chaplin 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% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
27%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Springfield 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. |
$97,846±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$84,838±$7k 5% above U.S. |
| Chaplin 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 26% below U.S. |
$255,200±$24k 23% below U.S. |
$335,300±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,223±$82 13% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
$4,918Highest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest 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% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin 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 | — | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Parish Hill High School | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
7.5Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.