Dialabus (actually called something else) is rubbish for working age people/families or regular use. You can only book from week to week, and may have to hang about for long times. On one occasion I tried to use them to get to Faldingworth for 4 hours work at any time during the day, and they could not achieve this for me on that day. Useful sometimes for some things.
Ludford - good access to Mkt Rsn and Louth for schools and other amenitiess. No primary school (closed about 5 years ago) so most go to Tealby or Mkt Rsn I think. Not so far to Horncastle if you've now made contacts/friends there. Not sure where you go for doctors from there? If it's Mkt Rsn I can tell you that you get to use the dispensary in the GPs if you're out of town, rather than schlepping to Boots, which is nice.
Hibaldstow used to have a fab ice cream shop! Puts you close to Brigg and Scunthorpe for services. Know little else of it.
Welton has great schools, chip shop and Indian, you know, and I think I agree with you about Dunholme being nicer. Also a bus service to Lincoln and Mkt Rsn/Grimsby. You can cycle to Lincoln on cycle paths too.
Kirton - has a great curry house too, nice town hall with some things going on, a new Co-op I've not been to yet (:)). In catchment for grammar in Gains, and I've not met anyone who seems too think well of the local y7-11 school, but I'm not sure why - a friend works there and is very proud of it. I wonder if this is just historical snobbery?
We have friends selling a gorgeous house in Donnington-on-Bain.... handy for Louth, Horncastle and Rasen....