Population 19,384 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Ludlow: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Ludlow
Household size in Ludlow
| Period | Ludlow | Springfield area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.55 | 2.56 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.48 | 2.57 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.61 | 2.56 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.42 | 2.51 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.13 | −0.05 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in Ludlow has 2.42 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has dropped from 2.55 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Ludlow
| Period | Ludlow | Springfield area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.4 | 38.8 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.1 | 39.4 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.0 | 40.3 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.4 | 40.7 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.1 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Ludlow skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.4, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 43.4, mirroring the country.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Ludlow
| Period | Ludlow | Springfield area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 15.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.4% | 16.7% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.2% | 15.8% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.6% | 15.3% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −0.2 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Ludlow: 7.6% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Ludlow
Renters in Ludlow
| Period | Ludlow | Springfield area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.7% | 37.0% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.3% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.1% | 38.9% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.1% | 37.8% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 23.1% of households in Ludlow rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Nearly four in ten owners (37.8%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the south; owners are most common in the northwest.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Ludlow
| Period | Ludlow | Springfield area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 8.4% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 4.9% | 8.3% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 8.2% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.9% | 7.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | −0.8 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Ludlow: 7.9% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The Springfield area as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged up 1.4 points, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Ludlow
| Period | Ludlow | Springfield area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1963 | 1956 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1966 | 1956 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1966 | 1957 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1965 | 1958 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +2 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Ludlow is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1965, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Still, homes here are newer than in the Springfield area overall, where the median home dates to 1958. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the south.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Ludlow
| Period | Ludlow | Springfield area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,042 | $809 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $899 | $871 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,115 | $995 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,270 | $1,261 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$228 | +$452 | +$775 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Ludlow costs $1,270 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $228 a month from 2006–10, a 22% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 28.4% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Ludlow
Bachelor's degrees in Ludlow
| Period | Ludlow | Springfield area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.7% | 23.3% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.3% | 24.8% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.1% | 26.7% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.6% | 29.0% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.9 pts | +5.8 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than a quarter of adults 25 and older in Ludlow (27.6%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 6.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people, only 25 have a lower share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Ludlow
| Period | Ludlow | Springfield area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 81.8% | 82.4% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.3% | 83.3% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 82.7% | 85.2% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.2% | 86.7% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Ludlow is close to the national rate: 90.2% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is higher than in the wider Springfield area (86.7%). The share with a diploma is up 8.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Ludlow
| Period | Ludlow | Springfield area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 10.2% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 11.8% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.4% | 6.2% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.0% | 6.3% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −3.9 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.0%, unemployment in Ludlow is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is lower than in the Springfield area overall (6.3%). Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.4 points, mirroring the country.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Ludlow compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ludlow | 2.42 | 45.4 | 7.6% | 23.1% | 7.9% | 1965 | $1,270 | 27.6% | 90.2% | 5.0% |
| Ludlow Center | 2.44 | 44.6 | 3.9% | 8.3% | 8.9% | 1976 | $1,409 | 24.7% | 91.1% | 6.0% |
| Indian Orchard | 2.73 | 36.6 | 26.2% | 53.0% | 7.8% | 1954 | $1,287 | 17.9% | 77.9% | 5.0% |
| Wilbraham | 2.71 | 44.5 | 6.6% | 11.3% | 7.4% | 1967 | $992 | 51.2% | 95.8% | 2.3% |
| Chicopee | 2.27 | 42.4 | 15.9% | 44.3% | 6.6% | 1956 | $1,244 | 22.8% | 86.4% | 6.3% |
| Springfield area | 2.51 | 40.7 | 15.3% | 37.8% | 7.7% | 1958 | $1,261 | 29.0% | 86.7% | 6.3% |
| Granby | 2.63 | 45.6 | 3.5% | 5.9% | 9.0% | 1967 | $1,431 | 38.2% | 95.0% | 2.5% |
| Palmer Town | 2.27 | 45.1 | 10.9% | 28.4% | 8.0% | 1964 | $1,092 | 23.2% | 90.7% | 3.6% |
| South Hadley | 2.26 | 45.7 | 6.3% | 23.2% | 5.1% | 1962 | $1,267 | 54.8% | 96.8% | 2.8% |
| Bondsville | 2.37 | 43.3 | 5.4% | 5.7% | 2.6% | 1984 | $1,214 | 39.3% | 96.2% | 2.2% |
| Palmer | 2.30 | 42.0 | 6.0% | 27.3% | 8.9% | 1965 | $921 | 27.8% | 92.9% | 11.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Sayreville, NJ · Enola, PA · Erlanger, KY · Evergreen Park, IL · Exeter, NH · Fairfax Station, VA · Fillmore, CA · Forest City, NC · Forest Lake, MN · Forest Park, OH
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Ludlow. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.