Compare towns
Chester vs Townsend vs Windham 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 affordable homes ($233k median).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Townsend | Windham | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
9,100Highest |
594Lowest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% 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% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Windham 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$370,200±$46k 11% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
— | $1,112±$151 21% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$4,890 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Ludlow 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ludlow and Windham 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | North Middlesex | — | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | North Middlesex Regional | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.