What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ludlow has the oldest population (median age 46.1).

Sherman has the most people working from home (28.2%).

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	Sherman
People
Population	444Lowest	947Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.9% ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.1±5.8Highest about the ME average	33.4±8.6Lowest 25% below ME
	Ludlow and Sherman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.7%±5.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	33.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	12.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4%
	Sherman 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%Highest ME: 36.2%	13.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8%	0.3%±0.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Ludlow and Sherman 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	$49,444±$7kLowest 34% below ME
	Ludlow and Sherman 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	$115,200±$14kLowest 61% below ME
	Ludlow and Sherman 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	$672±$329Lowest 41% below ME
	Ludlow and Sherman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,655Highest 45% below ME	$1,328Lowest 56% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±94.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	46.7%±77.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Sherman 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%	37.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	88.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME	1977Lowest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 15% below ME	22 minHighest 11% below ME
Work from home	9.8%±8Lowest ME: 15.9%	28.2%±12.1Highest ME: 15.9%
	Sherman 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.