Compare towns
Cavendish vs Ludlow vs Plainfield
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).
Ludlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | Ludlow | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,242Lowest |
1,990Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Ludlow and Plainfield 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% |
14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Cavendish and Plainfield 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% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Cavendish and Plainfield 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 |
$370,200±$46kHighest 17% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Ludlow and Plainfield 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 |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield 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 |
$4,890Highest about the VT average |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow and Cavendish 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 History | 18 photos → | 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.