Compare towns
Springfield vs Hatfield vs Lowell 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 the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Hatfield has the most people working from home (16%).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Hatfield | Lowell | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
3,325Lowest |
118,368 |
20,904 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
| Hatfield 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% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield 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% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$89,005±$25kHighest 14% below MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
| Hatfield 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 |
$440,800±$26kHighest 22% below MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
| Hatfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,930Highest 18% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
$4,918 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 31% below MA |
20 min 30% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Hatfield 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Hatfield | Lowell | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Smith Academy | Lowell High | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
6.1Lowest |
14.8Highest |
11.1 |
| 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.