Compare towns
Worcester vs Ludlow vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Auburn has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Worcester | Ludlow | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
20,904 |
16,970Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Auburn and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Auburn and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% MA: 47.3% |
27%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
$116,711±$10kHighest 12% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA |
$400,000±$16kHighest 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,223±$82Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,467±$155 17% below MA |
| Worcester and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$4,918 18% below MA |
$5,289Highest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.5% MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 17% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
26 minHighest 12% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Auburn 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA | #106 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Ludlow | Auburn |
| High school in town | South High Community | Ludlow Senior High | Auburn Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
12.1 |
| 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.