Compare towns
Cavendish vs Ludlow vs Strafford
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).
Ludlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% 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 | Ludlow | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,242Lowest |
1,990Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Ludlow and Strafford 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%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Ludlow and Strafford 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 |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Ludlow 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 |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$4,890 about the VT average |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Ludlow and Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
23 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.