What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brighton	Ludlow
People
Population	1,167Lowest	1,990Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT	52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT
	Ludlow and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9%	14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Brighton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.2%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4%	31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4%
	Ludlow and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%	45.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±2.4Lowest VT: 7%	5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7%
	Ludlow and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT	$54,885±$14kHighest 32% below VT
	Ludlow and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT	$370,200±$46kHighest 17% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT	$1,112±$151Highest 10% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,360Lowest 33% below VT	$4,890Highest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55%±17Highest VT: 48.4%	45.2%±25.2Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Brighton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	22%Highest VT: 10.1%	5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	71.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 41% above VT	20 minLowest 14% below VT
Work from home	12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9%	21.3%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Ludlow and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Brighton School District	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

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.