Compare towns
Athens vs Derby Center vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most homeowners (73.7%).
Derby Center has the oldest population (median age 61.1).
Ludlow has the most expensive homes ($304k median).
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 | Athens | Derby Center | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
693 |
808Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT |
61.1±7Highest 42% above VT |
48.7±5.6 13% above VT |
| Derby Center and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Derby Center and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
38.2%±6.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±0.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% VT: 43.8% |
16.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±3.4 VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Athens and Derby Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kHighest 16% below VT |
$58,250±$10k 28% below VT |
$56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT |
| Athens and Derby Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
$196,600±$24kLowest 38% below VT |
$304,000±$32kHighest 4% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT |
$1,078±$257 13% below VT |
$1,018±$91Lowest 18% below VT |
| Athens and Derby Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$2,505Lowest 50% below VT |
$4,237 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
48.2%±26.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Derby Center and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.5% VT: 73.2% |
51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
16 minLowest 31% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.2%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.