Compare towns
Cavendish vs Middlesex vs Putney 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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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.
| Measure | Cavendish | Middlesex | Putney | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242Lowest |
1,943 |
2,622Highest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
| Middlesex and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,112±$151 10% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,890 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 21% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.