Compare towns
Cavendish vs Derby vs Reading 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 youngest population (median age 45.2).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Cavendish | Derby | Reading | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
4,537Highest |
699Lowest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
| Ludlow and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest 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+ | 39.3% VT: 43.8% |
36.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Ludlow and Cavendish 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 |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Cavendish and Reading 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 |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$370,200±$46k 17% 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 | $1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,112±$151Highest 10% below VT |
| Ludlow and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948 22% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,890 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Derby 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% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
32 min 38% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 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 | — | #52 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | 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.