Compare towns
Andover vs Peru vs Springfield 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%).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Peru | Springfield | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
434Lowest |
9,084Highest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest 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%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield 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% |
21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 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±$38k 26% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Peru and Andover 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 |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
| Peru and Andover 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 |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,112±$151 10% below VT |
| Andover and Peru 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 |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,807Lowest 5% below VT |
$4,890 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
71.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 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 | — | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | — | — | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
— |
| 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.