Compare towns
Springfield vs Hardwick vs Ludlow vs Lynn
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).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Ludlow has the most people working from home (14%).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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 | Hardwick | Ludlow | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
2,684Lowest |
20,904 |
101,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
| Hardwick 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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% |
30.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Hardwick 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 49% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$84,838±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
| Ludlow and Lynn 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 |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$4,918 18% below MA |
$5,384Highest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Hardwick 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% |
11% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 31% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ludlow and Hardwick 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Quabbin | Ludlow | Lynn |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | None in town | Ludlow Senior High | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | 11.1Lowest |
15.0Highest |
| 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.