Compare towns
Wilbraham vs Thomaston vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering WilbrahamHampden
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilbraham has the most expensive homes ($416k median).
Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
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 | Thomaston | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,572 |
7,492Lowest |
20,904Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.3±1.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
27%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thomaston and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,051±$14kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$103,218±$15k 28% above U.S. |
$84,838±$7kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Wilbraham and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $416,000±$25kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$282,600±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$335,300±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,223±$82Highest 13% below U.S. |
| 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 113% above U.S. |
$5,915 90% above U.S. |
$4,918Lowest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thomaston and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampden-Wilbraham | Thomaston School District | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Thomaston High School | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.