Compare towns
Cavendish vs Wells River 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 highest household income ($89k).
Wells River has the most affordable homes ($171k median).
Ludlow has the most expensive homes ($370k median).
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 | Wells River | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,242 |
340Lowest |
1,990Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
42.7±12.7Lowest about the VT average |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
| Ludlow and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Cavendish and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest 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 |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
$54,885±$14k 32% below VT |
| Cavendish and Ludlow 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 |
$170,800±$103kLowest 46% below VT |
$370,200±$46kHighest 17% above VT |
| 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 19% below VT |
$900±$336Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,112±$151Highest 10% below VT |
| Ludlow and Cavendish 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 |
$4,154 18% below VT |
$4,890Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Wells River 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% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
71.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | 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.