Compare towns
Middleborough vs Townsend 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%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Townsend | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,505Highest |
9,100Lowest |
20,904 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.1 9% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
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%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ludlow and Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$84,838±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
| Townsend 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 17% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA |
| Middleborough and Townsend 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 |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,223±$82Lowest 31% below MA |
| Middleborough and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,023 about the MA average |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$4,918Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.2%±11.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.6%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleborough | North Middlesex | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Middleborough High | North Middlesex Regional | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
13.1Highest |
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.