What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Somerville has the most expensive homes ($218k 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	Somerville
People
Population	444Lowest	837Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+9.5% ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.1±5.8Highest about the ME average	33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME
	Ludlow and Somerville 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%	28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Somerville and Ludlow 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%	13.7%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Somerville 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%	25.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8%	1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Ludlow and Somerville 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	$71,250±$15kHighest 5% below ME
	Somerville 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	$218,100±$41kHighest 26% below ME
	Somerville 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	$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,655Lowest 45% below ME	$2,505Highest 17% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±94.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Somerville 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%	17%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	85.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME	1989Lowest 12 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 15% below ME	27 minHighest 9% above ME
Work from home	9.8%±8Highest ME: 15.9%	3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Ludlow and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	RSU 12
High school in town	—	None in town
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.