Compare towns
Ludlow vs Webster vs Orleans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ludlow has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Webster | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 808Lowest |
2,227Highest |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.7±5.6Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
41.7±5.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Ludlow and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orleans and Webster 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 U.S. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$57,159±$10k 29% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,000±$32k 9% below U.S. |
$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average |
$156,300±$18kLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Webster 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 28% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$810±$94Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Webster and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 36% above U.S. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,019Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ludlow and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Merrimack Valley School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.