Compare towns
Ludlow vs Fairlee 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).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Fairlee | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 808Lowest |
1,066Highest |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±5.6 13% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below VT |
| Fairlee 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% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest 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%±0.5 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Orleans 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 |
$74,760±$10kHighest 8% below VT |
$57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
| Fairlee and Orleans 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 |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
| Ludlow and Fairlee 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 |
$1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT |
$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
| Fairlee 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 |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33%±13.8 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | — |
| 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.