Compare towns
Ludlow vs Chelsea 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 people working from home (17.3%).
Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Chelsea | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 808Lowest |
1,223Highest |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±5.6 13% above VT |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT |
| Chelsea 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% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea 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% |
29.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Chelsea 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% |
29.6% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Chelsea and Brighton 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 |
$65,913±$13kHighest 19% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Chelsea 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 |
$260,900±$39k 18% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Ludlow and Chelsea 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 |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Chelsea 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 |
$3,762 25% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Brighton 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% |
14.3% VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.4% VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1967Highest 9 yrs older than VT |
1967Highest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | First Branch Unified School District #82 | 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.