Compare towns
Ludlow vs Castleton vs Brighton vs Ludlow
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 housing (typical home built 1938).
Castleton has the highest household income ($74k).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Ludlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Castleton | Brighton | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 808Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,167 |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±5.6 13% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
| Ludlow and Ludlow 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%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Brighton 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow 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% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,667±$19k 30% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$54,885±$14k 32% below VT |
| Castleton 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±$32k 4% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$370,200±$46kHighest 17% above VT |
| Ludlow and Ludlow 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 |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,112±$151 10% below VT |
| Castleton 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,360 33% below VT |
$4,890Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Brighton 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.4% VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
71.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow and Ludlow 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Brighton School District | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.