Compare towns
Ludlow vs Hardwick vs Oxford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ludlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.5%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Oxford has the highest household income ($104k).
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 | Hardwick | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,904Highest |
2,684Lowest |
13,385 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
42±2.8Lowest 5% above MA |
| Hardwick and Ludlow 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% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Oxford and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Oxford and Hardwick 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 18% below MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$103,862±$10kHighest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$374,900±$18kHighest 33% below MA |
| Oxford and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,177±$142 33% below MA |
| Ludlow and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,918Highest 18% below MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$4,622 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Oxford 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 | #154 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Quabbin | Oxford |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | None in town | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.