What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).

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	Hancock	Ludlow
People
Population	435Lowest	808Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-4.7% VT: +2.8%
Median age	33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT	48.7±5.6Highest 13% above VT
	Ludlow and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9%	13.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Hancock and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4%	30.4%±0.5Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%	39.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7%	2.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%
	Hancock and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,250±$34kHighest 6% below VT	$56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT
	Hancock and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT	$304,000±$32kHighest 4% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$939±$19Lowest 24% below VT	$1,018±$91Highest 18% below VT
	Ludlow and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,511Lowest 30% below VT	$4,237Highest 16% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	33%±13.8Highest VT: 48.4%
	Ludlow and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%	8.7%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.5%Highest VT: 73.2%	51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 17% above VT	21 minLowest 10% below VT
Work from home	11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9%	17.3%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9%
	Ludlow and Hancock 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.