What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).

Ludlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barnard	Ludlow
People
Population	1,211Lowest	1,990Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42.4±6Lowest about the VT average	52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT
	Ludlow and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9%	14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4%	31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.3%Highest VT: 43.8%	45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7%	5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7%
	Ludlow and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT	$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT	$370,200±$46kLowest 17% above VT
	Barnard and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT	$1,112±$151Lowest 10% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,038Highest 20% above VT	$4,890Lowest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4%	45.2%±25.2Highest VT: 48.4%
	Ludlow and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%	5.6%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.4%Highest VT: 73.2%	71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 21% above VT	20 minLowest 14% below VT
Work from home	19.3%±10.8Lowest VT: 16.9%	21.3%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Ludlow and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76	Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.