Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Cavendish vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Cavendish has the most kids (18.3% 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.
| Measure | Bridgewater | Cavendish | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980Lowest |
1,242 |
1,990Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
52.2±6.2 21% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Cavendish and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Cavendish and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$370,200±$46kHighest 17% above VT |
| Ludlow and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$1,112±$151Highest 10% below VT |
| Ludlow and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$3,948 22% below VT |
$4,890Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | 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 | 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.