Compare towns
Cavendish vs Newfields vs Strafford vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Newfields | Strafford | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242Lowest |
2,023Highest |
1,372 |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
52.2±6.2Highest 34% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±6.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Ludlow 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 U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$370,200±$46k 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,112±$151 21% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
$4,890 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Ludlow 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 | Newfields School District | Strafford School District | 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 → | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.