Compare towns
Springfield vs Hampden 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Hampden has the highest household income ($105k).
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 | Hampden | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
4,946Lowest |
20,904 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hampden 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% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$104,536±$16kHighest about the MA average |
$84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
| Hampden 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 56% below MA |
$358,200±$16kHighest 36% below MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
| Hampden 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 |
$1,132±$107Lowest 36% 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 |
$6,181Highest 3% above MA |
$4,918 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 31% below MA |
26 minHighest 11% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ludlow and Hampden 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 | #199 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Hampden-Wilbraham | 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.