Ludlow vs Wilbraham
marks the Massachusetts median on each scale. The better of the two is picked out where the gap is big enough to call; where neither is, they are level.
You are paying about $130k more for a 4BR in Wilbraham, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $130k for one tier of schooling.
On tax, look past the rate: Ludlow works out roughly $2,900 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Ludlow if you want the lower price.
All Ludlow numbers →Choose Wilbraham if you want the stronger schools of the two, or the commute matters most.
All Wilbraham numbers →Side by side
Some rows have no better. Town character describes a place rather than ranking it, and per-pupil spending tracks need rather than results, so neither is picked out.
SchoolsWilbraham ahead on 4 of 8
| Ludlow | Wilbraham | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | solid schoolsT3 | strong schoolsT2 |
| MCAS achievement | 18th | 62nd |
| Student growth | 44th | 56th |
| Graduation rate | 88.2% | 95.9% |
| State accountability | Moderate progress toward targets | Moderate progress toward targets |
| Spending per pupil | $21,443 | $19,398 |
| Schools in the district | 3 | 5 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 2 | 2 |
What a home costsLudlow ahead on 6 of 8
| Ludlow | Wilbraham | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $420kT1 | $550kT1 |
| 3BR townhouse | $325k | $425k |
| 2BR condo | $240k | $315k |
| 3BR home | $389k | $455k |
| 5+ BR home | $490k | $673k |
| 3BR rent | $2,293/mo | $2,423/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $123k | $161k |
| 10-year price growth | 5.7% a year | 5.8% a year |
What you pay the townLudlow ahead on 2 of 4
| Ludlow | Wilbraham | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $16.01T4 | $17.45T4 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$6,700 | ≈$9,600 |
| Town spending per resident | $3,909 | $3,503 |
| Share of budget on schools | 46% | 59% |
Getting to workLevel across all 3
| Ludlow | Wilbraham | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 111 minT4 | 110 minT4 |
| MBTA rail | No MBTA rail | No MBTA rail |
| Miles from downtown | 73 mi | 72 mi |
Before kindergartenEven, 1 each of 4
| Ludlow | Wilbraham | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 17 | 13 |
| Child care places | 451 | 529 |
| Centers vs family programs | 4 centers | 7 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 15 | 47 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| Ludlow | Wilbraham | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,002 | 14,613 |
| Energy | 5/10 | 4/10 |
| Compact center | 6/10 | 4/10 |
| Family amenities | 3/10 | 5/10 |
| Culture | 5/10 | 4/10 |
| Gathering places | 6/10 | 6/10 |
The tax bill is each town’s own rate on its own median 4BR, so a lower rate does not always mean a lower bill. School tiers are editorial, shown beside the state’s own MCAS figures rather than derived from them.
Prices calibrated to Zillow ZHVI and Redfin · FY2026 residential tax rates · rail leg from the MBTA timetable, drive modeled · rents are HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs · reviewed · methodology. Never uses demographics as an input.
