Compare towns

Cavendish vs Ferrisburgh 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 most affordable homes ($285k median).
Ferrisburgh has the highest household income ($107k).
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.

MeasureCavendishFerrisburghReadingLudlow
People
Population
1,242
2,661Highest
699Lowest
1,990
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.8%
VT: +2.8%
-4.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%
VT: +2.8%
+10.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.2±5.9Lowest
5% above VT
45.5±4.9
6% above VT
51.1±7.6
19% above VT
52.2±6.2Highest
21% 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
18.3%±4.8
VT: 17.9%
17.2%±4.5
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%±2
VT: 21.4%
23.3%±3.8Lowest
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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
51.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
46%
VT: 43.8%
45.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9
VT: 7%
3%±2.8Lowest
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±$29k
10% above VT
$106,989±$22kHighest
32% above VT
$85,000±$19k
5% above VT
$54,885±$14kLowest
32% below VT
Ferrisburgh 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
10% below VT
$422,700±$35kHighest
34% above VT
$377,200±$72k
19% above VT
$370,200±$46k
17% above VT
Ferrisburgh and Reading 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
$1,435±$173Highest
16% above VT
$1,100±$331
11% below VT
$1,112±$151
10% below VT
Ferrisburgh 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
$6,120Highest
21% above VT
$5,754
14% above VT
$4,890
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.9%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
57%±19.5
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
45.2%±25.2
VT: 48.4%
Reading and Ferrisburgh 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%
2.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.3%
VT: 73.2%
85.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
71.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
8 yrs older than VT
1968Lowest
8 yrs older 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
28 min
21% above VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
20 min
14% below VT
Work from home
18.5%±6.6
VT: 16.9%
14.6%±4.2Lowest
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 — #7 of 70 in VT — —
School district Green Mountain Unified School District #77 Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 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.