Compare towns
Ludlow vs Brookfield 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($99k).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k 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 | Brookfield | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 808Lowest |
1,486Highest |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±5.6Highest 13% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT |
| Ludlow and Brookfield 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% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Brighton 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% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Brookfield 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% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Brookfield 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 |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,000±$32k 4% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Brookfield and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$91Highest 18% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Ludlow and Brookfield 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 |
$4,560Highest 10% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33%±13.8 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Ludlow 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% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.4% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.