Compare towns
Ludlow vs Reading 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Reading | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 808 |
699Lowest |
809Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±5.6 13% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below VT |
| 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%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Orleans 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Reading 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Orleans and Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
| Reading 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±$32k 4% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33%±13.8 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest 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.