Compare towns
Ludlow vs Central Falls vs Middleborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Middleborough has the most expensive homes ($469k median).
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 | Ludlow | Central Falls | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,904Lowest |
22,701 |
24,505Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
43.4±2.1 12% above U.S. |
| Ludlow and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ludlow and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,838±$7k 5% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$97,056±$7kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Middleborough and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$352,100±$30k 6% above U.S. |
$468,700±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82 13% below U.S. |
$1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,706±$72Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,918 58% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$6,023Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.2%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middleborough and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ludlow and Middleborough 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 | #154 of 282 in MA | #38 of 38 in RI | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Central Falls Sr High | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
14.6Highest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.