Compare towns
Middleborough vs Worcester 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 the most expensive homes ($469k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,505 |
207,055Highest |
20,904Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.1 9% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below 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%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,056±$7kHighest 7% below MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$84,838±$7k 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 |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,706±$72Highest 3% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,223±$82Lowest 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,023Highest about the MA average |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$4,918 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.2%±11.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Middleborough and Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.9% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.6%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleborough | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Middleborough High | South High Community | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
14.6Highest |
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.