Compare towns
Springfield vs Gardner 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).
Ludlow has the most homeowners (77.5%).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Gardner | Ludlow | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
21,148 |
20,904Lowest |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
| Ludlow and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow and Gardner 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% |
23.8% MA: 47.3% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
30%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$67,518±$8k 35% below MA |
$84,838±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
| Ludlow and Lowell 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 |
$301,600±$20k 46% below MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
$4,918Highest 18% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Lowell 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% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% MA: 62.5% |
58.9% 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 |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 31% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ludlow and Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Gardner | Ludlow | Lowell |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Gardner High | Ludlow Senior High | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
13.5 |
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.