Compare towns
Athens vs Ludlow vs Newbury
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 affordable homes ($240k median).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Newbury has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Ludlow | Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431 |
808Highest |
393Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT |
48.7±5.6Highest 13% above VT |
48.3±14 12% above VT |
| Ludlow and Newbury 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% |
13.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Newbury 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% |
30.4%±0.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.5%±9.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±6.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Newbury and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30k 16% below VT |
$56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT |
$76,250±$23kHighest 6% below VT |
| Newbury and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$304,000±$32kHighest 4% below VT |
$275,900±$28k 13% below VT |
| Ludlow and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,018±$91Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,259±$401Highest about the VT average |
| Newbury and Athens 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 |
$4,237 16% below VT |
$3,943Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51%±25.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Newbury and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
30 min 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
14.3%±8.1Lowest 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 History | 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.