What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).

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	Sturbridge
People
Population	20,904Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±1.8Lowest 11% above MA	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
	Sturbridge and Ludlow 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%	20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sturbridge and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Ludlow and Sturbridge 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%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Ludlow and Sturbridge 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	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA	$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
	Ludlow and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,918Lowest 18% below MA	$6,520Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.7%±9.5Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ludlow and Sturbridge 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%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 31% below MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	14%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sturbridge 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	#154 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Ludlow	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Ludlow Senior High	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	7.7Lowest
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.