What stands out worked out from the figures below

Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

Ludlow has the most renters (48.6% rent).

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	Heath	Ludlow
People
Population	765Lowest	808Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S.	48.7±5.6Lowest 25% above U.S.
	Heath and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.1%±2.8 U.S.: 22%	13.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	30.4%±0.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Heath and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Heath and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,750±$23kHighest 22% above U.S.	$56,667±$19kLowest 30% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,000±$45kLowest 11% below U.S.	$304,000±$32kHighest 9% below U.S.
	Ludlow and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,018±$91 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,438Highest 42% above U.S.	$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33%±13.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Heath and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.3%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Heath and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.