Compare towns
Chester vs Lee vs Windham vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% 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 | Lee | Windham | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
5,719Highest |
594Lowest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
52.2±6.2 34% above U.S. |
| Lee and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Ludlow 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Windham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$370,200±$46kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Ludlow and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,112±$151 21% below U.S. |
| Lee and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,890 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ludlow and Windham 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Lee | — | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Lee Middle/High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
9.2Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 20 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.