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The Ludlow Town Green in Ludlow, Massachusetts.

Living in Ludlow, Massachusetts

Ludlow is a town in Hampden County northeast of Springfield, across the Chicopee River. It grew up around Ludlow Center, settled in 1751 as Stony Hill Parish and set off as its own town in 1774, and then around the mill village on the Chicopee River that became the economic center of town after the Ludlow Manufacturing Associates jute mill opened there in 1868. The old mill complex, with its clock tower depicted on the town seal, still lines the riverbank.

Ludlow CenterLudlow Village

By James Allen, NMLS 1216446 · Updated

Photo: John Phelan, CC BY 3.0

Ludlow at a glance

Ludlow's villages and zip codes

Ludlow uses a single ZIP code, 01056, for the whole town.

Ludlow villages and zip codes
AreaZip codeWhere it is
Ludlow Center01056The town's original settlement center at the junction of Center, Church and Booth Streets, and the site of Town Hall and other town offices today.
Ludlow Village01056A former mill village on the Chicopee River, roughly bounded by Winsor, Sewall and State Streets, that grew up around the jute mills starting in the 1860s and 1870s and took over from Ludlow Center as the town's economic hub. Known earlier as Jenksville, after the falls known as Wallamanumps where the area's first scythe-making mill was built.

Things to do in Ludlow, MA

Start with Ludlow Reservoir Shoreline Trail and Minnechoag Mountain / Ludlow Lookout Tower, then 4 more below.

  1. Ludlow Reservoir Shoreline Trail

    A trail circling the Ludlow Reservoir, popular for walking and running. It's a flat, shaded route around the water rather than a mountain hike.

    FreeYear-round

    Ludlow, MA

  2. Minnechoag Mountain / Ludlow Lookout Tower

    A hardpack dirt road climbs to the summit of Minnechoag Mountain, where a fire lookout tower stands at the top.

    FreeHiking

    Tower Road, Ludlow, MA

  3. Whitney Street Park

    An 11.6-acre town park with walking trails near the center of town.

    FreeYear-round

    Whitney Street, Ludlow, MA

  4. Ludlow Town Common

    A green in the town center with grounds and a playground, used for picnics and community gatherings.

    Free

    Ludlow Center, MA

  5. Ludlow Country Club

    An 18-hole public golf course built in 1921, playing to 6,561 yards from the longest tees.

    GolfSeasonal

    1 Tony Lema Drive, Ludlow, MA 01056

    Plan a visit

  6. Our Lady of Fatima Festa

    An annual Portuguese festival hosted by Our Lady of Fatima Church, one of the larger Portuguese-American cultural events in the country.

    AnnualFestival

    Ludlow, MA

More worth a visit

  • Ludlow Mills complexThe former Ludlow Manufacturing Associates jute mill site on the Chicopee River, whose clock tower appears on the town seal; parts of the redeveloped complex hold businesses and housing today.
  • Indian LeapA site on the Chicopee River associated with King Philip's War in 1675-1676, when a band of Indigenous people led by Roaring Thunder were forced to the river's edge while fleeing colonial forces.

Around the calendar

  • Summer
    Our Lady of Fatima FestaAn annual Portuguese religious and cultural festival at Our Lady of Fatima Church, drawing visitors from beyond Ludlow.

A little history

The area was first settled in 1751 as Stony Hill Parish, part of Springfield, and Ludlow was incorporated as a separate town on February 28, 1774.

The Ludlow Manufacturing Associates jute mill opened on the Chicopee River in 1868, making jute yarns, twine and webbing; its clock tower is depicted on the town seal.

During King Philip's War (1675-1676), a band of Indigenous people led by Roaring Thunder were driven to the Chicopee River at a site remembered as Indian Leap while fleeing colonial forces.

Parks, trails and outdoors in Ludlow

Ludlow's outdoor recreation centers on the Ludlow Reservoir and Minnechoag Mountain on the east side of town, plus town parks near the center.

  • Ludlow Reservoir Shoreline TrailA loop trail around the Ludlow Reservoir used for walking and running.
  • Minnechoag MountainA hardpack road climbs to a summit fire lookout tower on the mountain's east side.
  • Whitney Street ParkAn 11.6-acre town park with walking trails.
  • Ludlow Town CommonA central green with a playground and open lawn.
  • Ludlow Country ClubA public 18-hole golf course built in 1921.More information

Where to eat in Ludlow: restaurants and coffee

4 places in Ludlow to try, including portuguese and american restaurant and portuguese restaurant. No one paid to be listed.

Walkability and getting around Ludlow

Ludlow Center and parts of Ludlow Village have sidewalks near Town Hall, the library and East Street businesses, but most of the town's residential areas and the roads connecting them are built for driving. A car is needed for most errands and commuting.

Ludlow Center

488 Chapin Street, Ludlow, MA 01056

Ludlow Village

Check any Ludlow address

Drive times

  • Springfield, about 8 miles15-20 min
  • Bradley International Airport, about 23 miles30-35 min

Approximate, without traffic.

By bus or train

PVTA's B6 route (Ludlow via Bay Street) connects Ludlow to Springfield's Union Station, and the X94 Outer Crosstown route connects Ludlow with East Longmeadow. Ludlow has no train station; the nearest Amtrak service (Valley Flyer and Hartford Line) is at Springfield's Union Station.

Ludlow property taxes

Ludlow's FY2026 residential tax rate is $16.01 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,601 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $5,923, on an average assessed value of $369,984.

Ludlow's FY2026 tax rates

$16.01per $1,000, residential

  • Residential$16.01 per $1,000
  • Average single-family assessed value$369,984
  • Average single-family tax bill$5,923
  • Motor vehicle excise (statewide)$25 per $1,000 of value

Source: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.

Ludlow property tax calculator

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Assessed value (100%)
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Taxes a year
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About this much a month
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Estimate at the FY2026 residential rate; the assessor's value sets the bill.

Add it to a full payment estimate

How the residential rate has changed

Fiscal yearResidential rate
FY2022$19.99
FY2023$19.51
FY2024$18.09
FY2025$17.35
FY2026$16.01

Look up a Ludlow property

Buying a home in Ludlow

What we check on a Ludlow purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, title 5 septic, smoke/co certificate, river flood zones.

MassHousing

First-time buyer programs

MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Hampden County. We check them with you before you shop.

MassHousing home loans
Flood maps

Check the flood zone first

The Chicopee River forms Ludlow's border with Springfield and Chicopee on the town's southwest side, and FEMA-mapped flood zones follow the river corridor and the low-lying mill-era streets near it, including parts of Ludlow Mills. Most of the town away from the river sits outside the mapped 1-percent-annual-chance floodplain. We check FEMA's map before you offer.

FEMA's flood map for Ludlow
Before closing

Smoke and CO certificate

Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Ludlow Fire Department before the sale closes.

Title 5 septic

Ask about septic systems outside sewered areas

Properties not connected to the sewer system rely on private septic systems, which Ludlow's Board of Health permits and inspects under the state's Title 5 regulations. Massachusetts generally requires a Title 5 inspection before a septic-served property changes hands.

Board of Health
Smoke/CO certificate

Schedule the fire department inspection before closing

Massachusetts law requires a smoke detector and carbon monoxide certificate of compliance from the local fire department before most residential sales can close. In Ludlow, that inspection is scheduled through the Fire Department.

Fire Department
River flood zones

Check FEMA flood zones near the Chicopee River

Parts of town along the Chicopee River, including sections of the former Ludlow Mills complex, fall within FEMA-mapped flood zones. Ask about flood zone status and flood insurance requirements for any property near the river.

All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. MassHousing limits and eligibility are set by MassHousing and change from time to time.

James Allen

Thinking about buying in Ludlow?

We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Ludlow address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.

Call (860) 398-5268 Text us Email the team

Compare loan optionsOur process

Moving to Ludlow: utilities, trash and town hall

Who to call in Ludlow: Eversource for power.

Town of Ludlow Transfer Station

198 Sportsman's Road, Ludlow, MA 01056

Transfer station details

Town Hall offices and contacts

Ludlow Town Hall is at 488 Chapin Street, Ludlow, MA 01056. Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-4:30 PM. Main line: 413-583-5600.

Ludlow, MA FAQ: taxes and town services

What is the property tax rate in Ludlow, MA?

Ludlow's FY2026 residential tax rate is $16.01 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.

How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Ludlow?

Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $6,404 a year at $16.01 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.

Does Ludlow have a split tax rate?

No. Ludlow uses a single rate of $16.01 per $1,000 for all property classes.

What is the average single-family tax bill in Ludlow?

The average single-family tax bill in Ludlow was $5,923 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $369,984.

What ZIP code does Ludlow use?

Ludlow uses a single ZIP code, 01056, for the entire town.

Is trash pickup curbside in Ludlow?

Yes. Ludlow provides weekly curbside trash and biweekly curbside recycling using town-owned carts, under a contract with USA Waste & Recycling that began July 1, 2025.

Who supplies electricity and gas in Ludlow?

Eversource supplies both electricity and natural gas in Ludlow; Eversource acquired the former Columbia Gas of Massachusetts service territory, which included Ludlow.

Where does Ludlow get its water?

The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission provides retail drinking water service to Ludlow.

Is there PVTA bus service in Ludlow?

Yes. The PVTA's B6 route runs between Ludlow and Springfield's Union Station via Bay Street, and the X94 Outer Crosstown route connects Ludlow with East Longmeadow.

How far is Ludlow from Springfield?

Ludlow is about 8 miles from downtown Springfield, roughly a 15-20 minute drive.

Towns near Ludlow

Neighbors of Ludlow, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.

Sources