What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harvard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).

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.

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

Measure	Harvard	Ludlow
People
Population	6,927Lowest	20,904Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±4.7Lowest 10% above MA	44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA
	Ludlow and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%	16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Harvard and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62%Highest MA: 47.3%	27%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ludlow and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA	$84,838±$7kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA	$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,321±$424Highest 25% below MA	$1,223±$82Lowest 31% below MA
	Harvard and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$4,918Lowest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8%	50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Harvard and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest MA: 10%	6.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	77.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 9% above MA	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%	14%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#12 of 282 in MA	#154 of 282 in MA
School district	Harvard	Ludlow
High school in town	The Bromfield High School	Ludlow Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Lowest	11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	12 photos →	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.