Compare towns
Middleborough vs Smithfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Smithfield has the most homeowners (81.6%).
Ludlow has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
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 | Smithfield | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,505Highest |
22,233 |
20,904Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.1 12% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.3±1.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middleborough and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,056±$7k 20% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$84,838±$7kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Smithfield 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. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$335,300±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Middleborough and Smithfield 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. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,223±$82 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,023Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
$4,918Lowest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.2%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middleborough and Smithfield 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #170 of 282 in MA | #8 of 38 in RI | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleborough | Smithfield | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Middleborough High | Smithfield High School | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
11.8Highest |
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.