Compare towns
Cavendish vs Reading vs Webster 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%).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% 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 | Reading | Webster | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
699Lowest |
2,227Highest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% 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. |
44.7±7.6Lowest 15% 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% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest 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% |
30.7%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% |
3%±1.4Lowest 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±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Webster 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 14% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30k 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. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,112±$151 21% below U.S. |
| Webster and Ludlow 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. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,890 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Webster 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest 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% |
96%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. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above 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% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest 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 | ||||
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Merrimack Valley 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 → | 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.