Compare towns
Ludlow vs Ware 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).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
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 | Ware | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,904Highest |
6,369Lowest |
13,385 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest 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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest 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±$7k 18% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$103,862±$10kHighest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$374,900±$18kHighest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% 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 | $4,918Highest 18% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,622 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Oxford 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% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #267 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 | 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.