Compare towns
Ludlow vs Dover vs Orleans
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 renters (48.6% rent).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k 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 | Dover | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 808Lowest |
1,466Highest |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±5.6 13% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below VT |
| Dover and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orleans 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% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Dover 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Orleans 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±$19k 30% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$57,159±$10kHighest 30% below VT |
| Orleans 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 |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
| Dover 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 |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$810±$94 34% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 16% below VT |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33%±13.8 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dover 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.