Compare towns
Chester vs Ware 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).
Ware has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Ware | Windham | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
6,369Highest |
594Lowest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware 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% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest 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% |
3.7%±1.9 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. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$54,885±$14k 32% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$253,400±$31k 24% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$370,200±$46kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Ludlow and Windham 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. |
$1,039±$104 26% below U.S. |
— | $1,112±$151Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Ludlow and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 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% |
64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware 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% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 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 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | — | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | — | 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 |
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.