Compare towns
Springfield vs Union 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 kids (24.2% under 18).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Ludlow has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Union | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
944Lowest |
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. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.3±1.8 14% above U.S. |
| Union 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% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union 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% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
27%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$88,958±$14kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$84,838±$7k 5% above U.S. |
| Union 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. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$335,300±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Ludlow and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— | $1,223±$82Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Ludlow and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$4,918Highest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union 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% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ludlow and Union 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 | — | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Union School District | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | None in town | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.