What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby Line has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).

Ludlow has the most expensive homes ($304k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Derby Line	Ludlow
People
Population	783Lowest	808Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	46.7±13.3Lowest 8% above VT	48.7±5.6Highest 13% above VT
	Ludlow and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.6%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9%	13.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Derby Line and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.9%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4%	30.4%±0.5Highest VT: 21.4%
	Ludlow and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%	39.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.3Highest VT: 7%	2.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%
	Derby Line and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,518±$25kHighest 12% below VT	$56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT
	Derby Line and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,000±$52kLowest 37% below VT	$304,000±$32kHighest 4% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$835±$334Lowest 32% below VT	$1,018±$91Highest 18% below VT
	Ludlow and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,275Lowest 35% below VT	$4,237Highest 16% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.4%±24.3Highest VT: 48.4%	33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Derby Line and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%	8.7%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83%Highest VT: 73.2%	51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 20 yrs older than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 3% above VT	21 minLowest 10% below VT
Work from home	13.5%±9.8Lowest VT: 16.9%	17.3%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9%
	Ludlow and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.