What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

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	Sutton
People
Population	20,904Highest	9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±1.8 11% above MA	44.3±2.5 11% above MA
Kids under 18	16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sutton 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%	18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Ludlow and Sutton 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%	52.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Ludlow and Sutton 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	$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA	$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA	$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA
	Ludlow and Sutton 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	$6,763Highest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.7%±9.5Highest MA: 51.8%	47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ludlow and Sutton 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%	5.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 31% below MA	30 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	14%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#154 of 282 in MA	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	Ludlow	Sutton
High school in town	Ludlow Senior High	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	12.6Highest
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.