Compare towns
Andover vs Hardwick 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 highest household income ($103k).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
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 | Hardwick | Jay | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
2,965Highest |
471Lowest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT |
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% |
15.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Hardwick 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% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Ludlow and Andover 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 |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Andover and Hardwick 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 |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below 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 |
$875±$406Lowest 29% 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 | $5,190Highest about the VT average |
$4,351 14% below 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% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Hardwick 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% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Jay 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 | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | — | Hazen Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— | — |
| 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.