What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).

Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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	Sturbridge	Ludlow
People
Population	9,960Lowest	20,904Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA	44.3±1.8Lowest 11% above MA
	Sturbridge and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4%	16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Sturbridge and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Ludlow and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	27%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ludlow and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA	$84,838±$7kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA	$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA	$1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA
	Ludlow and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,520Highest 9% above MA	$4,918Lowest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.7%±9.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ludlow and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%	6.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	77.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 30% above MA	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%	14%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Sturbridge and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#89 of 282 in MA	#154 of 282 in MA
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	Ludlow
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	Ludlow Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7Lowest	11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.