Compare towns
Andover vs Berlin vs Reading 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%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Ludlow has the most renters (28.1% rent).
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 | Berlin | Reading | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616Lowest |
2,880Highest |
699 |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1Lowest 14% above VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
| Ludlow and Reading 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% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Reading 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% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Ludlow and Berlin 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 |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Andover and Berlin 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 |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
| Andover and Reading 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 |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,112±$151 10% below VT |
| Andover and Berlin 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 |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,890 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Reading 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% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Reading 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 | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.