Compare towns
Chester vs Barre vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
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 | Chester | Barre | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
8,412Highest |
1,990Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
| Ludlow and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Ludlow and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$65,625±$7kHighest 19% below VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Barre and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$370,200±$46kHighest 17% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,112±$151Highest 10% below VT |
| Ludlow and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
$4,890 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ludlow and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
71.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow and Chester 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | #19 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Spaulding Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
10.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.