Compare towns
Ludlow vs Lowell 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 the shortest commute (20 min average).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Lowell | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,904 |
118,368Highest |
13,385Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
42±2.8 5% above MA |
| Ludlow and Oxford 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% |
21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Lowell and Oxford 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% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow and Oxford 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
$103,862±$10kHighest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA |
$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
$374,900±$18k 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,918Highest 18% below MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$4,622 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Oxford and Lowell 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% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Lowell | Oxford |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Lowell High | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
14.8Highest |
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.