Compare towns
Ludlow vs Waltham 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Waltham has the highest household income ($98k).
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 | Waltham | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 808 |
452Lowest |
1,167Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±5.6 13% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT |
| Waltham 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% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton 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% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Waltham 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 |
$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,000±$32k 4% below VT |
$329,700±$51kHighest 4% above VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Waltham 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 |
$1,096±$113Highest 11% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Waltham 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 |
$5,714Highest 13% above VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33%±13.8 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Ludlow 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% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.4% VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Waltham 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 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.