Compare towns
Middleborough vs Fairhaven 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%).
Fairhaven has the oldest population (median age 48.5).
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 | Fairhaven | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,505Highest |
15,903Lowest |
20,904 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3% MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
| Fairhaven and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Middleborough and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Fairhaven and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32% MA: 47.3% |
32.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ludlow and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,056±$7kHighest 7% below MA |
$95,965±$19k 8% below MA |
$84,838±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
| Middleborough and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $468,700±$18kHighest 17% below MA |
$446,700±$19k 21% below MA |
$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA |
| Middleborough and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,706±$72Highest 3% below MA |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,023Highest about the MA average |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$4,918 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.2%±11.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Middleborough and Fairhaven 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% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.9% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.6%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ludlow and Middleborough 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 | #126 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleborough | Fairhaven | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Middleborough High | Fairhaven High | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
11.4Highest |
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.