Compare towns
Ludlow vs Dudley vs Middleborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Dudley has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Dudley | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,904 |
11,929Lowest |
24,505Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+4.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.4±2.1 9% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA |
$97,056±$7kHighest 7% below MA |
| 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 40% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$468,700±$18kHighest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,706±$72Highest 3% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,918 18% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,023Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest 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 | 6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
76.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
14.3Highest |
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.