What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ludlow has the most people working from home (9.8%).

Smyrna has the most kids (33.2% under 18).

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	Smyrna
People
Population	444Highest	380Lowest
Median age	46.1±5.8Highest about the ME average	31±9.6Lowest 31% below ME
	Ludlow and Smyrna 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%	33.2%±5.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Smyrna and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	12.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4%	10.8%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Ludlow and Smyrna 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%	17.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8%	0.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Ludlow and Smyrna 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	$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME
	Ludlow and Smyrna 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	$117,100±$10kLowest 61% below ME
	Ludlow and Smyrna 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	$425±$63Lowest 63% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,655Highest 45% below ME	$1,200Lowest 60% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±94.3Highest ME: 48.4%	0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Ludlow and Smyrna 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%	15.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	95.4%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME	1977Lowest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 15% below ME	15 minLowest 37% below ME
Work from home	9.8%±8Highest ME: 15.9%	6.4%±6.1Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Ludlow and Smyrna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.