What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ludlow has the most renters (48.6% rent).

Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

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	Heath
People
Population	808Highest	765Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.7±5.6Lowest 25% above U.S.	53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S.
	Heath and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22%	13.1%±2.8 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	30.4%±0.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Heath and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	46.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Heath and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,667±$19kLowest 30% below U.S.	$98,750±$23kHighest 22% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$304,000±$32kHighest 9% below U.S.	$295,000±$45kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Ludlow and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,018±$91 28% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S.	$4,438Highest 42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33%±13.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Heath and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.
Work from home	17.3%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Heath 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

U.S. 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.