Compare towns
Danvers vs Ludlow vs Middleborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Middleborough has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Danvers | Ludlow | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
20,904Lowest |
24,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
43.4±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
| Danvers and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Middleborough and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ludlow and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$84,838±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$97,056±$7k 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA |
$468,700±$18k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,223±$82Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,706±$72 3% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$4,918Lowest 18% below MA |
$6,023 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.2%±11.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Middleborough and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
76.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Danvers and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Ludlow | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Ludlow Senior High | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.