Compare towns
Springfield vs Preston vs Windsor Locks vs Ludlow
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 renters (50.4% rent).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Preston | Windsor Locks | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
4,821Lowest |
12,579 |
20,904 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
44.3±1.8 14% above U.S. |
| Preston 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston 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% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Springfield and Windsor Locks 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 35% below U.S. |
$116,648±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$84,838±$7k 5% above U.S. |
| Preston 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. |
$361,900±$13kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$335,300±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,223±$82 13% below U.S. |
| Preston and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695 18% above U.S. |
$4,749 52% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,918Highest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Springfield 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Preston School District | Windsor Locks School District | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.