What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ludlow has the most kids (16.4% under 18).

Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).

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	Thompson
People
Population	20,904Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.3±1.8Lowest 14% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ludlow and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thompson and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ludlow and Thompson 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 5% above U.S.	$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S.
	Thompson and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$335,300±$10kHighest about the U.S. average	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,223±$82Highest 13% below U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Ludlow and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,918Highest 58% above U.S.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.7%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson 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 U.S.: 12.5%	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 24% below U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	14%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ludlow and Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Ludlow	Thompson School District
High school in town	Ludlow Senior High	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	7.9Lowest
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.