Compare towns
Chester vs Northfield 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%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Northfield | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
5,920Highest |
1,990Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% 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% |
14.6%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Northfield 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% |
20%±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% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$71,768±$13kHighest 12% below VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Northfield 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 |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$370,200±$46kHighest 17% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,112±$151Highest 10% below VT |
| Ludlow and Northfield 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 |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$4,890Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
10.0Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.