Compare towns
Springfield vs Ware 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 youngest population (median age 33.7).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
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 | Ware | Lowell | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
6,369Lowest |
118,368 |
20,904 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
| Ludlow and Ware 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% |
23.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2k 49% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$84,838±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
| Ludlow and Lowell 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 |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695 38% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
$4,918Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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 MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% MA: 62.5% |
57.4% MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest 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 |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 31% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | — | Lowell | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | — | Lowell High | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | 14.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.