Compare towns
Ludlow vs Sutton vs Waterville 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 most people working from home (17.3%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (85%).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Sutton | Waterville | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 808 |
790 |
680Lowest |
1,167Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±5.6 13% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT |
| Waterville 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% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Brighton 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% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Brighton 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 |
$71,250±$18kHighest 12% below VT |
$71,250±$27kHighest 12% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,000±$32kHighest 4% below VT |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$91 18% below VT |
— | $1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Waterville and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Highest 16% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Waterville 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% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.4% VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.