Compare towns
Ludlow vs Upton 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).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Oxford has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Upton | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,904Highest |
8,189Lowest |
13,385 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42±2.8Lowest 5% above MA |
| Upton and Ludlow 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Oxford 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow and Upton 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% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$103,862±$10k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$374,900±$18k 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,177±$142 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 | $4,918 18% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,622Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Oxford and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Oxford 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Oxford |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Blackstone Valley | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.2Highest |
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.