Compare towns
Chester vs Williamson 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
Williamson has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Williamson | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
6,823Highest |
1,990Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
40.9±4.2Lowest 5% 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williamson 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.5Lowest 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% |
34.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2Lowest 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. |
$90,515±$14kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$192,700±$18kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$370,200±$46kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$659±$304Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,112±$151Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Ludlow and Chester 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. |
$5,172Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,890 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.1%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ludlow and Williamson 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% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ludlow and Williamson 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 | #221 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | WILLIAMSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | WILLIAMSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Highest |
8.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.