Compare towns
Castleton vs Ludlow vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Ludlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Reading has the highest household income ($85k).
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 | Castleton | Ludlow | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,990 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
| Ludlow and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
| Reading and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,112±$151 10% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
| Castleton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,890 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.