Compare towns
Middleborough vs Ludlow vs Dracut
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleborough has the most renters (23.1% rent).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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 | Ludlow | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,505 |
20,904Lowest |
32,574Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.1 9% above MA |
44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
41.7±2Lowest 4% 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% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dracut 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% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32% MA: 47.3% |
27%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Ludlow and Dracut 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 |
$84,838±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$114,036±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
| Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $468,700±$18k 17% below MA |
$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA |
$473,900±$17kHighest 16% below MA |
| Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,706±$72 3% below MA |
$1,223±$82Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,839±$130Highest 4% above MA |
| Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,023Highest about the MA average |
$4,918Lowest 18% below MA |
$5,375 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.2%±11.4 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dracut 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% MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.5% MA: 62.5% |
79.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.6%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±2Lowest 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 | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleborough | Ludlow | Dracut |
| High school in town | Middleborough High | Ludlow Senior High | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
11.1Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| 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.