Compare towns
Middleborough vs Ripton vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleborough has the most expensive homes ($469k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Ripton | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,505Highest |
508Lowest |
20,904 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.1Lowest 12% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
44.3±1.8 14% above U.S. |
| Ripton 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Middleborough and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,056±$7k 20% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$84,838±$7kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Ripton 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±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$335,300±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Middleborough and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,706±$72Highest 21% above U.S. |
— | $1,223±$82Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,023Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$4,918 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.2%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middleborough and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton 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 | — | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleborough | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 |
U.S. 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.