Compare towns
Berlin vs Dover vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the highest household income ($87k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Ludlow has the most renters (28.1% rent).
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 | Berlin | Dover | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
1,466Lowest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Lowest 17% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
52.2±6.2 21% above VT |
| Dover and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Ludlow and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$54,885±$14k 32% below VT |
| Berlin and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$370,200±$46kHighest 17% above VT |
| Ludlow and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,112±$151 10% below VT |
| Berlin and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,890Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ludlow and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
22 minHighest 6% below VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.