Compare towns
Ludlow vs North Bennington vs Sharon
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).
North Bennington has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | North Bennington | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 808Lowest |
1,336 |
1,577Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±5.6Highest 13% above VT |
43.9±10Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Ludlow and Sharon 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% |
10.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon 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% |
31.9%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| North Bennington 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% |
41.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT |
$68,571±$10k 16% below VT |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
| Sharon and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,000±$32kLowest 4% below VT |
$313,000±$40k about the VT average |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
| Sharon and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$91Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,447±$278Highest 17% above VT |
$1,386±$155 12% above VT |
| North Bennington and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Lowest 16% below VT |
$5,590 11% above VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33%±13.8 VT: 48.4% |
53.7%±26.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| North Bennington 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% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
61.4% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1957 19 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Sharon School District |
| High school 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.