Compare towns
Springfield vs Northampton 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 kids (24.2% under 18).
Northampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Northampton | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
30,962 |
20,904Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
| Ludlow and Northampton 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% |
16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow and Northampton 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% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$80,288±$6k 23% below MA |
$84,838±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
| Ludlow and Northampton 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 |
$429,700±$17kHighest 24% below MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,439±$75Highest 18% below MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$5,680Highest 5% below MA |
$4,918 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Northampton 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% |
13.4% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
57.3% MA: 62.5% |
77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 31% below MA |
21 minHighest 26% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #276 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Northampton High | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
14.7Highest |
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.