Compare towns
Chester vs Cornwall vs Ludlow vs Windham
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 affordable homes ($233k median).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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 | Chester | Cornwall | Ludlow | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
1,208 |
1,990 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Ludlow and Cornwall 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% |
18.7%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Cornwall and Windham 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% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Cornwall and Windham 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 |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Cornwall and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
$1,112±$151 10% below VT |
— |
| Cornwall and Ludlow 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 |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$4,890 about the VT average |
$5,951 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall 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% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Ludlow 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | — |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.