Compare towns
Cavendish vs Athens vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has the highest household income ($89k).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Ludlow has the most expensive homes ($370k median).
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 | Cavendish | Athens | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,242 |
431Lowest |
1,990Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
| Ludlow and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest 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+ | 23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Ludlow and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$68,438±$30k 16% below VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Cavendish and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% 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 | $1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT |
$1,112±$151 10% below VT |
| Athens and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$4,890 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ludlow and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.7% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow and Athens 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.