What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Patten has the most people working from home (28.7%).

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	Patten
People
Population	444Lowest	1,154Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-13.4% ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.1±5.8Lowest about the ME average	57.8±3.5Highest 29% above ME
Kids under 18	22.7%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1%	11.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	12.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	38.5%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%	25.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8%	1.1%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Ludlow and Patten 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	$51,484±$6kLowest 31% below ME
	Ludlow and Patten 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	$127,600±$49kLowest 57% below ME
	Ludlow and Patten 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	$389±$99Lowest 66% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,655Highest 45% below ME	$1,199Lowest 61% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±94.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	56%±64.1Highest ME: 48.4%
	Patten and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%	23.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME	1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 15% below ME	28 minHighest 13% above ME
Work from home	9.8%±8Lowest ME: 15.9%	28.7%±19.4Highest ME: 15.9%
	Patten and Ludlow 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.