Compare towns
Cavendish vs Jay vs Ludlow vs Tunbridge
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Ludlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Tunbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Jay | Ludlow | Tunbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
471Lowest |
1,990Highest |
1,253 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
42.7±8.3Lowest about the VT average |
| Ludlow and Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Tunbridge 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2 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 |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$89,464±$26kHighest 10% above VT |
| Tunbridge 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±$40k 10% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$370,200±$46kHighest 17% above VT |
$315,300±$23k about the VT average |
| Ludlow and Tunbridge 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 |
— | $1,112±$151 10% below VT |
$1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
| Tunbridge and Ludlow 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,890Highest about the VT average |
$4,645 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Ludlow 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Tunbridge 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| 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.