Compare towns
Middleborough vs Ashburnham vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Ashburnham has the most homeowners (96%).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Middleborough | Ashburnham | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,505Highest |
6,415Lowest |
20,904 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.1 9% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±1.8Highest 11% 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 | 18.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32% MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,056±$7k 7% below MA |
$118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$84,838±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $468,700±$18kHighest 17% below MA |
$390,700±$34k 30% below MA |
$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,706±$72 3% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,223±$82Lowest 31% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,023 about the MA average |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
$4,918Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.2%±11.4 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham 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 | #170 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleborough | Ashburnham-Westminster | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Middleborough High | None in town | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.