Compare towns
Braintree vs Ludlow vs Orleans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the highest household income ($80k).
Ludlow has the most expensive homes ($304k median).
Orleans has the most kids (17.9% 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 | Braintree | Ludlow | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Highest |
808Lowest |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
48.7±5.6 13% above VT |
41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orleans and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±0.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Orleans and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT |
$57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$304,000±$32kHighest 4% below VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405 32% below VT |
$1,018±$91Highest 18% below VT |
$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
| Ludlow and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 22% below VT |
$4,237Highest 16% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8 VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Braintree and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.