What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wilbraham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wilbraham	Ludlow
People
Population	14,572Lowest	20,904Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.7 11% above MA	44.3±1.8 11% above MA
Kids under 18	23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4%	16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%	21.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Wilbraham and Ludlow 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%	27%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9%	5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,051±$14kHighest 17% above MA	$84,838±$7kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$416,000±$25kHighest 26% below MA	$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,175±$241Lowest 33% 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	$4,918Lowest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8%	50.7%±9.5Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10%	6.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	77.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 9% below MA	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	12.9%±3.1Lowest 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	#154 of 282 in MA
School district	Hampden-Wilbraham	Ludlow
High school in town	Minnechaug Regional High	Ludlow Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.2Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.