Compare towns
Springfield vs Salem 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).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
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 | Salem | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
44,795 |
20,904Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Springfield 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 |
$85,153±$5kHighest 18% below MA |
$84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
| Salem 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 |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,114Highest about the MA average |
$4,918 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Salem 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% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.7% MA: 62.5% |
77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 31% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #276 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Salem | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Salem High | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.