Compare towns
Ludlow vs Ware vs Springfield vs Middleborough
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 oldest population (median age 44.3).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Springfield has the youngest population (median age 33.7).
Middleborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
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 | Springfield | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,904 |
6,369Lowest |
154,749Highest |
24,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
43.4±2.1 9% above MA |
| Ludlow and Middleborough 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%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Ware 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
20.5% MA: 47.3% |
32%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$52,656±$2k 49% below MA |
$97,056±$7kHighest 7% below MA |
| 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 40% below MA |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$468,700±$18kHighest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,706±$72Highest 3% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,918 18% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$6,023Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
57.2%±11.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
76.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | — | Springfield | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | — | Springfield Central High | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.