Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Hampden vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilbraham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Hampden has the oldest population (median age 50.9).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Wilbraham | Hampden | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,572 |
4,946Lowest |
20,904Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7Lowest 11% above MA |
50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA |
44.3±1.8Lowest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
26.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hampden and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
27%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,051±$14kHighest 17% above MA |
$104,536±$16k about the MA average |
$84,838±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
| Wilbraham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $416,000±$25kHighest 26% below MA |
$358,200±$16k 36% below MA |
$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,175±$241 33% below MA |
$1,132±$107Lowest 36% below MA |
$1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA |
| Ludlow and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,658Highest 11% above MA |
$6,181 3% above MA |
$4,918Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Wilbraham and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 9% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ludlow and Wilbraham 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 | #88 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Hampden-Wilbraham | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | None in town | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.