What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

Ludlow has the most affordable homes ($335k 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	Sutton	Ludlow
People
Population	9,452Lowest	20,904Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.5 11% above MA	44.3±1.8 11% above MA
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%	16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Sutton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Ludlow and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	27%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ludlow and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA	$84,838±$7kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA	$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA	$1,223±$82Highest 31% below MA
	Ludlow and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,763Highest 13% above MA	$4,918Lowest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.7%±9.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ludlow and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest MA: 10%	6.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	77.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest about the MA average	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%	14%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#105 of 282 in MA	#154 of 282 in MA
School district	Sutton	Ludlow
High school in town	Sutton High School	Ludlow Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	11.1Lowest
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.