The Town FilesLudlow, Massachusetts
Town in Hampden County · population 21,002 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $335,300
- Household income
- $84,838
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 44.3
Ludlow is a town of 21,002 people in Hampden County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $335,300, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks more of a college town than 75% of Massachusetts towns, easier by car than 71% of Massachusetts towns, more walkable than 70% of Massachusetts towns.
How Ludlow ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ludlow is worth $335,300, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $84,838, which is more affordable than 74% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,223 a month. 77.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ludlow | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $335,300 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,223 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $84,838 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 77.5% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Ludlow
| People | Ludlow | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.0% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.8% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 15.9% | — |
| Work from home | 14.0% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 20.1 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.1% | 93.9% |
Weather in Ludlow
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 15.4°F. About 47.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.5 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ludlow since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 1, 2011 about 5.4 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 201 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 1, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 26, 2011.
Severe weather in Hampden County since 1996
Hampden County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| April 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4110: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3350: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Hampden County
Hampden County had 202,129 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,834 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Ludlow itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Ludlow
5 public schools with 2,823 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ludlow Senior High | 9-12 | 750 | 10.9 |
| Harris Brook Elementary School | 2-5 | 617 | 12.3 |
| Indian Orchard Elementary | PK-5 | 565 | 12.6 |
| Paul R Baird Middle | 6-8 | 532 | 11.8 |
| East Street Elementary School | PK-1 | 359 | 12.4 |
Towns near Ludlow
- Wilbraham, MA3.7 mi · 4,003 people · home $400,300
- Wilbraham, MA4.2 mi · 14,613 people · home $416,000
- Granby, MA4.8 mi · 6,110 people · home $352,600
- Chicopee, MA5.8 mi · 55,560 people · home $274,500
- Springfield, MA6.3 mi · 155,929 people · home $245,000
- Belchertown, MA6.7 mi · 3,129 people · home $346,900
- Belchertown, MA7.2 mi · 15,350 people · home $371,300
- Palmer Town, MA7.8 mi · 12,448 people · home $271,400
Ludlow questions
Is Ludlow, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ludlow scores better for retirees than 24% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 37%. 21.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.3).
How much does a house cost in Ludlow?
The median owner-occupied home in Ludlow is valued at $335,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $84,838, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,223 a month.
What is the weather like in Ludlow?
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 15.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.5 inches of precipitation a year and 47.5 inches of snow.
Does Ludlow get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ludlow since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 1, 2011. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)