Compare towns
Andover vs Barre vs Windham vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Ludlow has the oldest population (median age 52.2).
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.
| Measure | Andover | Barre | Windham | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
8,412Highest |
594Lowest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
| Ludlow and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Ludlow and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Andover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
| Andover and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
— | $1,112±$151 10% below VT |
| Andover and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 about the VT average |
$5,192 3% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,890Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Ludlow 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | — | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | — | Spaulding Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.