Compare towns
Ludlow vs Pittsfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.7%).
Pittsfield has the most people working from home (28.1%).
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 | Pittsfield | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 808 |
391Lowest |
1,167Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±5.6 13% above VT |
53.8±3.5Highest 25% above VT |
45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT |
| Pittsfield 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% |
13.6%±8.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton and Pittsfield 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% |
30.4%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.5 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Pittsfield 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 |
$65,852±$12kHighest 19% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Pittsfield 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 |
$313,300±$73kHighest about the VT average |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Pittsfield and Ludlow 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 |
$1,035±$140Highest 16% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Pittsfield 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 |
$5,181Highest about the VT average |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
35.6%±43 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Pittsfield 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.4% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
28.1%±24.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pittsfield and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Brighton 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.