What stands out worked out from the figures below

Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Epping	Ludlow
People
Population	7,430Lowest	20,904Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S.	44.3±1.8Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Epping and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22%	16.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Epping and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Epping and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	27%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ludlow and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S.	$84,838±$7kLowest 5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S.	$335,300±$10kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,223±$82Lowest 13% below U.S.
	Epping and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,936Highest 122% above U.S.	$4,918Lowest 58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	50.7%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Epping and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.	20 minLowest 24% below U.S.
Work from home	24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Epping 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	#77 of 120 in NH	#154 of 282 in MA
School district	Epping School District	Ludlow
High school in town	Epping High School	Ludlow Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3Lowest	11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.