What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ludlow has the most kids (22.7% under 18).

Clifton has the most expensive homes ($203k median).

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	Clifton
People
Population	444Lowest	1,111Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-8.8% ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.1±5.8Lowest about the ME average	52.7±7.1Highest 18% above ME
	Clifton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.7%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1%	16%±7.1Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Ludlow and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	12.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Clifton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%	26.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±3.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	8.6%±8.5Highest ME: 5.8%
	Clifton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,500±$21kLowest 16% below ME	$70,313±$16kHighest 6% below ME
	Clifton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$133,900±$56kLowest 55% below ME	$202,500±$67kHighest 32% below ME
	Clifton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$988±$111Lowest 13% below ME	$1,217±$624Highest 7% above ME
	Clifton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,655Lowest 45% below ME	$1,838Highest 39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±94.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	81.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Clifton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.3%Highest ME: 10.7%	9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	87.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 15% below ME	29 minHighest 19% above ME
Work from home	9.8%±8Highest ME: 15.9%	9.1%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Ludlow and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.