Compare towns
Worcester vs Ludlow vs Springfield vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Ludlow has the most homeowners (77.5%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Lowell has the most expensive homes ($429k median).
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 | Worcester | Ludlow | Springfield | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
20,904Lowest |
154,749 |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$84,838±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
| Ludlow and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 21% below MA |
$4,918Highest 18% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.6% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 17% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ludlow and Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Ludlow | Springfield | Lowell |
| High school in town | South High Community | Ludlow Senior High | Springfield Central High | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
11.1Lowest |
12.2 |
14.8Highest |
| 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.