Compare towns
Bolton vs Ludlow vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has the most affordable homes ($312k median).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% 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 | Bolton | Ludlow | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
1,990Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1% VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Ludlow and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Bolton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$42kLowest about the VT average |
$370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273 5% above VT |
$1,112±$151Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826Lowest 4% below VT |
$4,890 about the VT average |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.