Compare towns
Ludlow vs Putnam vs Oxford
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).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% 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 | Putnam | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,904Highest |
9,292Lowest |
13,385 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
42±2.8Lowest 8% 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% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oxford and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ludlow and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$7k 5% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$103,862±$10kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10k about the U.S. average |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$374,900±$18kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,177±$142 17% below U.S. |
| 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 58% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,622 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±15.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Putnam School District | Oxford |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Putnam High School | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.5Lowest |
10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.