Compare towns
Ludlow vs Jay 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Jay | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 808 |
471Lowest |
1,167Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±5.6 13% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton and Jay 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Brighton 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% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brighton 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 |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Ludlow and Jay 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 |
— | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Highest 16% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Jay 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% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.4% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | None 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.