Compare towns
Chester vs Middlesex vs Putney 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).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Middlesex | Putney | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,622 |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Putney 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
| Middlesex and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,112±$151 10% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,890 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 6 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.