Compare towns
Chester vs Sutton 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%).
Sutton has the most kids (17.3% under 18).
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 | Sutton | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
790Lowest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above 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% |
17.3%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sutton 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% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$71,250±$18kHighest 12% below VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Sutton 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 26% below VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$370,200±$46kHighest 17% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
— | $1,112±$151Highest 10% below VT |
| 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 15% below VT |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,890Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ludlow and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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 | 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.