What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).

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	Killingly	Ludlow
People
Population	17,867Lowest	20,904Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-0.5% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average	44.3±1.8Highest 14% above U.S.
	Ludlow and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%	16.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Killingly and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ludlow and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	27%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Killingly and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S.	$84,838±$7kHighest 5% above U.S.
	Ludlow and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S.	$335,300±$10kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S.	$1,223±$82Highest 13% below U.S.
	Ludlow and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S.	$4,918Highest 58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.7%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ludlow and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	77.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.	20 minLowest 24% below U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ludlow and Killingly 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	#136 of 149 in CT	#154 of 282 in MA
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS	Ludlow
High school in town	Killingly High School	Ludlow Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1	11.1
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.