Compare towns
Cavendish vs Springfield vs Sharon 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Sharon has the most kids (21% 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 | Springfield | Sharon | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242Lowest |
9,084Highest |
1,577 |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
| Ludlow and Sharon 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% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
| 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 VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Cavendish and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$370,200±$46kHighest 17% above VT |
| Ludlow and Sharon 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 |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,112±$151 10% below VT |
| Sharon 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 |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$4,890 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
71.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow and Cavendish 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Sharon School District | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | None yet | None yet | 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.