Compare towns
Ware vs Ludlow vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Ludlow has the highest household income ($85k).
Ware has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
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 | Ware | Ludlow | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048 |
20,904Highest |
6,369Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
| Ludlow and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest 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+ | 24% MA: 47.3% |
27%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ludlow and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$84,838±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
| Ludlow and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$335,300±$10kHighest 40% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
| Ludlow and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 29% below MA |
$4,918Highest 18% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the MA average |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Ludlow | — |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Ludlow Senior High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
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.