Compare towns
Ludlow vs Newfields vs Springfield 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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
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 | Newfields | Springfield | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,904 |
2,023Lowest |
154,749Highest |
24,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
43.4±2.1 12% above U.S. |
| Ludlow and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,838±$7k 5% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$97,056±$7k 20% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10k about the U.S. average |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$468,700±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82 13% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,706±$72 21% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,918 58% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,023 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.2%±11.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Middleborough 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #154 of 282 in MA | — | #276 of 282 in MA | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Newfields School District | Springfield | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | None in town | Springfield Central High | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.