Compare towns
Springfield vs Exeter 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Ludlow has the most homeowners (77.5%).
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 | Exeter | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
16,151Lowest |
20,904 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.3±1.8 14% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Ludlow 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% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Springfield and Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$84,838±$7k 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$335,300±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,223±$82 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,918 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5%Highest 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. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Exeter High School | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
12.1 |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.