Compare towns
Springfield vs Worcester vs Needham 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 affordable homes ($245k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Ludlow has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Worcester | Needham | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749 |
207,055Highest |
32,459 |
20,904Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
| Ludlow and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow and Needham 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% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,918 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Needham 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% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 31% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #276 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Needham | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | South High Community | Needham High | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
14.6Highest |
11.9 |
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.