Compare towns
Ludlow vs Townsend 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).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Oxford has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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 | Townsend | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,904Highest |
9,100Lowest |
13,385 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
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%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Oxford and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest 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 |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$103,862±$10k about the MA average |
| Townsend and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$374,900±$18k 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA |
| Townsend and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,918 18% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$4,622Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
82.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | North Middlesex | Oxford |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | North Middlesex Regional | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
13.1Highest |
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.