Compare towns
Cavendish vs Williston vs Middlesex 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 most affordable homes ($285k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Ludlow has the oldest population (median age 52.2).
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 | Williston | Middlesex | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,943 |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+10.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
| Ludlow and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Ludlow and Williston 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 VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Middlesex and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,112±$151 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,890 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
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.