Compare towns
Ludlow vs Plainfield vs Putnam 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).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Putnam | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,904 |
15,141 |
9,292Lowest |
24,505Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
43.4±2.1 12% above U.S. |
| Ludlow and Putnam 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% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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±$7k 5% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$97,056±$7kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| 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±$10k about the U.S. average |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$468,700±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82 13% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,706±$72Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,918 58% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,023Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.2%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Plainfield School District | Putnam School District | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Plainfield High School | Putnam High School | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.3 |
9.5Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.