Compare towns
Dover vs Ludlow vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Ludlow has the most renters (28.1% rent).
Worcester has the highest household income ($74k).
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 | Dover | Ludlow | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,990Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
52.2±6.2 21% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
| Dover and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Ludlow and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$54,885±$14k 32% below VT |
$73,833±$18kHighest 9% below VT |
| Worcester and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$370,200±$46kHighest 17% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Ludlow and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,112±$151Highest 10% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Ludlow and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$4,890Highest about the VT average |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ludlow and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.