What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ludlow has the most expensive homes ($304k median).

Derby Line has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ludlow	Derby Line
People
Population	808Highest	783Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	48.7±5.6Highest 13% above VT	46.7±13.3Lowest 8% above VT
	Ludlow and Derby Line 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%	22.6%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9%
	Derby Line and Ludlow 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%	24.9%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Ludlow and Derby Line 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%	35.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%	3.4%±2.3Highest VT: 7%
	Derby Line and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT	$71,518±$25kHighest 12% below VT
	Derby Line 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	$201,000±$52kLowest 37% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,018±$91Highest 18% below VT	$835±$334Lowest 32% below VT
	Ludlow and Derby Line 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	$3,275Lowest 35% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4%	35.4%±24.3Highest VT: 48.4%
	Derby Line and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Highest VT: 10.1%	7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%	83%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT	1956Highest 20 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 10% below VT	24 minHighest 3% above VT
Work from home	17.3%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9%	13.5%±9.8Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Ludlow and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.