Compare towns
Ludlow vs Barre vs Brighton
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 most expensive homes ($304k median).
Barre has the highest household income ($66k).
Brighton has the most kids (18.3% under 18).
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 | Barre | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 808Lowest |
8,412Highest |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±5.6Highest 13% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
| Ludlow and Brighton 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% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton and Barre 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% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,667±$19k 30% below VT |
$65,625±$7kHighest 19% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Barre and Ludlow 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 |
$210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$91 18% below VT |
$1,093±$58Highest 11% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Barre and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 16% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3% VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
51.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1947 29 yrs older than VT |
1967Highest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow and Brighton 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | Spaulding Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.