Compare towns
Springfield vs Hampton vs Ludlow vs Lowell
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 affordable homes ($245k median).
Hampton has the highest household income ($109k).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Lowell has the most expensive homes ($429k 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 | Hampton | Ludlow | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
1,647Lowest |
20,904 |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.3±1.8 14% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
27% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$84,838±$7k 5% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
| Hampton 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. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$335,300±$10k about the U.S. average |
$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,223±$82 13% below U.S. |
$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,364 40% above U.S. |
$4,918Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,499 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Hampton 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% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Hampton School District | Ludlow | Lowell |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | None in town | Ludlow Senior High | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | 11.1Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.