Compare towns
Chester vs Hyde Park 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%).
Hyde Park has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Ludlow has the most expensive homes ($370k median).
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 | Hyde Park | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
513Lowest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
42.6±10.1Lowest 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%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Hyde Park 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% |
16.4%±3.3Lowest 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% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2Lowest 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 |
$89,946±$10kHighest 11% above VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$221,800±$57kLowest 30% below VT |
$370,200±$46kHighest 17% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,306±$285Highest 6% above VT |
$1,112±$151 10% below VT |
| Hyde Park and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 15% below VT |
$3,893Lowest 23% below VT |
$4,890Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±47.5 VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ludlow and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.6% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
7.9%±5.3Lowest 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 | #59 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | 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.