Compare towns
Chester vs Mapleton vs Strong 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 homeowners (86.7%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
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 | Mapleton | Strong | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
1,884 |
1,249Lowest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9 22% above U.S. |
52.2±6.2Highest 34% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Strong 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$54,885±$14k 32% below U.S. |
| Mapleton 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±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$370,200±$46kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$920±$276 35% below U.S. |
$1,112±$151Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Ludlow and Chester 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$1,950 37% below U.S. |
$4,890Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ludlow and Strong 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ludlow and Strong 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | 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 |
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.