Compare towns
Ludlow vs Bakersfield vs Orleans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ludlow has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Bakersfield has the most homeowners (94%).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k 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.
| Measure | Ludlow | Bakersfield | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 808Lowest |
1,109Highest |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±5.6Highest 13% above VT |
46.4±8 8% above VT |
41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below VT |
| Ludlow and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orleans and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±0.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT |
$83,462±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,000±$32kHighest 4% below VT |
$271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
| Ludlow and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$91 18% below VT |
$1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
| Bakersfield and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Highest 16% below VT |
$3,823 24% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33%±13.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Ludlow and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school 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.