What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middleborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Middleborough	Ludlow
People
Population	24,505Highest	20,904Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.4±2.1Lowest 9% above MA	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%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%	16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Middleborough and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±2.1 MA: 17.9%	21.8%±2.5 MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32%Highest MA: 47.3%	27%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.1Lowest 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	$84,838±$7kLowest 18% 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	$468,700±$18kHighest 17% below MA	$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,706±$72Highest 3% below MA	$1,223±$82Lowest 31% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,023Highest about the MA average	$4,918Lowest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.2%±11.4Highest MA: 51.8%	50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Middleborough and Ludlow 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%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	77.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 7% above MA	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	13.6%±2.9Lowest 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	#154 of 282 in MA
School district	Middleborough	Ludlow
High school in town	Middleborough High	Ludlow Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.