Compare towns
Cavendish vs Exeter vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k median).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
Ludlow has the oldest population (median age 52.2).
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 | Exeter | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,242Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
52.2±6.2Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Ludlow and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Cavendish and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±6.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$370,200±$46k 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,112±$151 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,890 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ludlow and Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | 59 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.

