Compare towns
Chester vs Brattleboro 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%).
Brattleboro has the most kids (19% 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 | Chester | Brattleboro | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
12,122Highest |
1,990Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
45.6±4.5Lowest 6% above VT |
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%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brattleboro and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2Lowest 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% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest 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±$8kHighest 23% below VT |
$58,241±$8k 28% below VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Chester and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
$370,200±$46kHighest 17% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
$1,112±$151Highest 10% below VT |
| Ludlow and Brattleboro 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 |
$5,700Highest 13% above VT |
$4,890 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Brattleboro and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
71.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow and Brattleboro 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 | #33 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
9.0Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.