What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).

Ludlow has the most kids (16.4% under 18).

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	Thompson	Ludlow
People
Population	9,337Lowest	20,904Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-0.5% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.	44.3±1.8Lowest 14% above U.S.
Kids under 18	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ludlow and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thompson and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	27%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ludlow and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S.	$84,838±$7kLowest 5% above U.S.
	Thompson and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.	$335,300±$10kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,223±$82Highest 13% below U.S.
	Ludlow and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.	$4,918Highest 58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	50.7%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	20 minLowest 24% below U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ludlow and Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT	#154 of 282 in MA
School district	Thompson School District	Ludlow
High school in town	Tourtellotte Memorial High School	Ludlow Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.9Lowest	11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.