[Mithalwen]

In the Laws and Customs of the Eldar (LaCE) it says that elves mature slower and do not finish growing until they are at least fiftyand sometimes not for a lot longer than that - so at least twice/two and a half times as long as mortal men.

However as Elves age their spirit dominates over the body and that makes them more resistant to injury (so easier to kill a young elf than an old one!!!) can't quite remember where that is but I am fairly sure I haven't imagined it!!

One difference though (going back LaCE), is that having children is somewhat debilitating for elf women. An elf woman who hasn't had children is pretty much as strong as an elf man but having children depletes their strength which is a reason that most elf families have three children or fewer and one might say it should be Miriel rather than Feanor who should be reknowned for bearing seven sons....

Personally I would go for hobbits..