Compare towns
Ludlow vs Barre vs North Bennington
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 oldest population (median age 48.7).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
North Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | North Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 808Lowest |
8,412Highest |
1,336 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±5.6Highest 13% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
43.9±10 about the VT average |
| Ludlow and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barre and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±0.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.9%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| North Bennington and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
$68,571±$10kHighest 16% below VT |
| North Bennington and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,000±$32k 4% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$313,000±$40kHighest about the VT average |
| North Bennington and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$91Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,447±$278Highest 17% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Lowest 16% below VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
$5,590Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
53.7%±26.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| North Bennington and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.4% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
61.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1947 29 yrs older than VT |
1957Highest 19 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 10% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | Spaulding Union High School | — |
| 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.