What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ludlow has the most affordable homes ($335k median).

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

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	Ludlow	Needham
People
Population	20,904Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA	43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA
	Ludlow and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%	17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Ludlow and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27%Lowest MA: 47.3%	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Needham and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,838±$7kLowest 18% below MA	$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,223±$82Lowest 31% below MA	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,918Lowest 18% below MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Needham and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 31% below MA	28 minHighest 5% below MA
Work from home	14%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#154 of 282 in MA	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	Ludlow	Needham
High school in town	Ludlow Senior High	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	11.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.