What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ludlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.5%).

Oxford has the most kids (21.3% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ludlow	Oxford
People
Population	20,904Highest	13,385Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA	42±2.8Lowest 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%	21.3%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Oxford and Ludlow 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%	16.6%±2.7Lowest 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%	29.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Oxford and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,838±$7kLowest 18% below MA	$103,862±$10kHighest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA	$374,900±$18kHighest 33% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA	$1,177±$142Lowest 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	$4,622Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Oxford and Ludlow 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%	7.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 31% below MA	28 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	14%±3.4Lowest 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	#245 of 282 in MA
School district	Ludlow	Oxford
High school in town	Ludlow Senior High	Oxford High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.