Compare towns
Cavendish vs Salem 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 kids (18.3% under 18).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
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 | Salem | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,242Lowest |
2,611Highest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
52.2±6.2Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Ludlow and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Cavendish and Salem 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% |
22.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$83,398±$12k 3% above U.S. |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Cavendish and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$370,200±$46kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Ludlow and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,112±$151Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Ludlow and Cavendish 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. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,890Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ludlow and Salem 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% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | — | #376 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | None in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.5 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 18 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.