Compare towns

Cavendish vs Ludlow vs Sheldon

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%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% 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.

MeasureCavendishLudlowSheldon
People
Population
1,242Lowest
1,990
2,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.8%
VT: +2.8%
+10.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.2±5.9
5% above VT
52.2±6.2Highest
21% above VT
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% below VT
Ludlow and Cavendish 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%
14.1%±6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23.7%±3.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
Sheldon 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%
31.1%±2Highest
VT: 21.4%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.3%
VT: 43.8%
45.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9
VT: 7%
5.8%±6.4Highest
VT: 7%
2%±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
$78,533±$25k
3% below VT
Cavendish and Sheldon 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
$370,200±$46kHighest
17% above VT
$272,400±$61kLowest
14% below VT
Ludlow and Cavendish 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
$1,286±$379Highest
4% above VT
Sheldon 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
$4,890Highest
about the VT average
$3,578Lowest
29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.9%±27
VT: 48.4%
45.2%±25.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Ludlow and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.6%
VT: 10.1%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.3%
VT: 73.2%
71.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
8 yrs older than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
21% below VT
20 min
14% below VT
25 minHighest
7% above VT
Work from home
18.5%±6.6
VT: 16.9%
21.3%±5.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7Lowest
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 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school in town None 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.