Compare towns
Chester vs Hartland 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 affordable homes ($233k median).
Hartland has the highest household income ($86k).
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 | Hartland | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
3,460Highest |
1,990Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Lowest 15% above VT |
55.8±5.1Highest 29% above VT |
52.2±6.2 21% above VT |
| Hartland and Ludlow 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% |
16.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Hartland 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% |
28.4%±5.8Lowest 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% |
36.6% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.7%±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 |
$86,136±$23kHighest 6% above VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Hartland 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±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$348,600±$39k 10% above VT |
$370,200±$46kHighest 17% above VT |
| Ludlow and Hartland 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 |
— | $1,112±$151Highest 10% below VT |
| Ludlow and Chester 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 |
$6,437Highest 28% above VT |
$4,890 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.1%±89.7 VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ludlow and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
8.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
91.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±6.4Lowest 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 | #29 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Hartland School District | 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 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.