What stands out worked out from the figures below

Taunton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

Ludlow has the most people working from home (14%).

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	Taunton	Ludlow
People
Population	60,433Highest	20,904Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	38.9±1.3Lowest about the MA average	44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA
Kids under 18	21.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%	16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	15%±1.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	27%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ludlow and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,283±$7kLowest 24% below MA	$84,838±$7kHighest 18% below MA
	Ludlow and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$422,800±$9kHighest 25% below MA	$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,324±$86Highest 25% below MA	$1,223±$82Lowest 31% below MA
	Taunton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,344Lowest 28% below MA	$4,918Highest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8%	50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Taunton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13%Highest MA: 10%	6.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	77.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	8%±1.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#253 of 282 in MA	#154 of 282 in MA
School district	Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical · Taunton	Ludlow
High school in town	Taunton High	Ludlow Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	16.6Highest	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.