What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k 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	Danforth
People
Population	444Lowest	666Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-0.3% ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.1±5.8Lowest about the ME average	53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME
	Danforth 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%	13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Ludlow and Danforth 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%	26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.2%Highest ME: 36.2%	9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8%	1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Ludlow and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,500±$21kHighest 16% below ME	$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME
	Ludlow and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$133,900±$56kHighest 55% below ME	$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME
	Ludlow and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$988±$111Highest 13% below ME	$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,655Highest 45% below ME	$1,270Lowest 58% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±94.3Highest ME: 48.4%	36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Ludlow and Danforth 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%	13.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME	1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 15% below ME	28 minHighest 15% above ME
Work from home	9.8%±8Highest ME: 15.9%	5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Ludlow and Danforth 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.