Compare towns
Ludlow vs Reading vs North Bennington
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).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
North Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Reading | North Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 808 |
699Lowest |
1,336Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+4.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±5.6 13% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
43.9±10Lowest about the VT average |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.9%±8.1Highest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$68,571±$10k 16% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$313,000±$40k about the VT average |
| Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,447±$278Highest 17% above VT |
| North Bennington and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,590 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.7%±26.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and North Bennington 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
61.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT |
1957 19 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±6.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±7.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| 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.