Compare towns
Andover vs Calais vs Jay 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%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Calais | Jay | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
1,713 |
471Lowest |
1,990Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
| Ludlow and Jay 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% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Jay 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% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Ludlow 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 |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Andover and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68k 21% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
| Calais and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 13% above VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
— | $1,112±$151Lowest 10% below VT |
| Calais and Andover 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 |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,890 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Calais 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% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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.