Compare towns
Cavendish vs Reading vs Sidney 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).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Sidney has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Ludlow has the most renters (28.1% rent).
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 | Reading | Sidney | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
699Lowest |
4,790Highest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
52.2±6.2Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Ludlow and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ludlow and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Cavendish and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$370,200±$46k 11% above U.S. |
| Reading 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 29% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,112±$151 21% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948 27% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$4,890 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | — | — | #15 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | RSU 18 | 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 | 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.