Compare towns
Barnard vs Ludlow vs Royalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
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%).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k 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 | Barnard | Ludlow | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
1,990 |
2,752Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
| Ludlow and Royalton 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% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
42.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4 VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Royalton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
| Royalton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below 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±$151 10% below VT |
$1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$4,890 about the VT average |
$4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Ludlow and Royalton 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% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9% VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow and Barnard 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 | — | — | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.