Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0Within Massachusetts, Ludlow is healthier than 9% of graded towns
Ludlow trails Massachusetts on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 01056. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ludlow
More Ludlow adults lack emotional support
1 in 4 adults lack social or emotional support (27.4%), vs 23.4% across Massachusetts. Depression is above the state too: 27.7%, vs 23.8% across Massachusetts. Mind & connection ↓
COPD, heart disease and arthritis run high in Ludlow
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.1%), vs 5.9% across Massachusetts. 1 in 14 adults have heart disease (7.3%), vs 5.8% across Massachusetts. Arthritis is also above the state: 31.9%, vs 25.4% across Massachusetts. In all, Ludlow runs above Massachusetts on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Ludlow adults get no exercise
1 in 4 adults get no exercise outside work (26.7%), vs 21.7% across Massachusetts. There are 44 miles of trails across 10 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
Health varies a lot right around Ludlow
Grades next door run from Belchertown (A) to Springfield (D). Ludlow is a B−. Around town ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Massachusetts figure falls outside Ludlow’s likely range; Ludlow’s figures come from ZIP code 01056, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Ludlow’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ludlow is healthier than 46% of U.S. towns, #255 of 279 in Massachusetts. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 71% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 25%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Ludlow’s median household income is $84,838; among the 10,405 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($64K–$106K), it’s healthier than 37%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
How Ludlow adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Ludlow runs above Massachusetts.
4 in 10 Ludlow adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Out of every 100 Ludlow adults…
Ludlow runs above MA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Massachusetts
Share of adults, with the Massachusetts figure marked.
44 miles of trails across 10 parks and preserves
Ludlow and the towns around it
Ludlow’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 6 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ludlow | B− | 33% | 11% | 14.9% | ZIP 01056 |
| Wilbraham | A | 29.2% | 9.5% | 9.9% | ZIP 01095 |
| Springfield | D | 39.6% | 14.8% | 17.5% | CDC place |
| Chicopee | C | 34.7% | 11.9% | 15.6% | CDC place |
| Belchertown | A | 24.2% | 9.1% | 10.9% | ZIP 01007 |
| Granby | A | 23.8% | 9.2% | 11.5% | ZIP 01033 |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Ludlow
No hospital or community health center in Ludlow itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Ludlow; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Keeping up with care
Share of Ludlow adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Massachusetts.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
17.2% of Ludlow adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across Massachusetts.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ludlow adults live with a disability (Massachusetts 27.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ludlow
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ludlow is better than Massachusetts on 0 and worse on 14; on the rest, the Massachusetts figure falls inside Ludlow’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ludlow | MA | U.S. | vs MA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.3%17.8–22.9 | 16.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%13.9–17.5 | 12.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.5%16.5–20.5 | 16.2% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33%28.4–37.7 | 27.7% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 11%9.6–12.5 | 9.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.3%32.1–38.5 | 30.9% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.4%33.1–39.7 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.9%29.2–34.7 | 25.4% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.8%11.5–14.3 | 11.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.2%9.3–11.2 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.3%6.5–8.1 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.1%7–9.2 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.3–4 | 3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.3%11.7–17.1 | 11.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.9%12.8–17.3 | 11.3% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 26.7%23.1–30.4 | 21.7% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 17.1%14.6–19.6 | 17% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.5%31.2–39.9 | 33.6% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.6%4.6–6.7 | 5.2% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 81%78.3–83.5 | 80.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 69.2%66.3–72.1 | 69.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.2%87.7–90.5 | 89.7% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.4%74.6–80 | 75.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.4%63.2–71.3 | 68.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.3%74.7–85.1 | 83.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.7%24.6–30.9 | 23.8% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 36%32.3–40 | 34.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.4%24.3–30.9 | 23.4% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.6%11.6–15.8 | 12.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.9%10.3–13.7 | 11.1% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.9%6.8–9 | 7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.1%7.1–9.2 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.2%14.7–19.7 | 14.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.2%30.6–38 | 27.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.8%13.7–17.9 | 11.6% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16%14.2–18 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.6%6.8–8.5 | 6% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.8%4.3–5.3 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.1%8–10.2 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.9%3.4–4.3 | 3.1% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Massachusetts figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Ludlow
Is Ludlow a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ludlow is healthier than 46% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #255 of 279 in Massachusetts. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 37%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ludlow?
CDC estimates 33% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.4% and 37.7%, against 27.7% across Massachusetts and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ludlow?
Baystate Wing Hospital in Palmer, 6.1 miles in a straight line from Ludlow’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Ludlow have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.6–6.7%), against 5.2% across Massachusetts.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Ludlow more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ludlow.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Massachusetts figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.