Compare towns
Chester vs Reading vs Stratton 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).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Reading | Stratton | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
699 |
532Lowest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
— | +10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
| Ludlow and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Stratton and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
| Stratton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,112±$151 10% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,890 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.