What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ludlow has the most people working from home (17.3%).

Wells River has the most affordable homes ($171k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ludlow	Wells River
People
Population	808Highest	340Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.7% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	48.7±5.6Highest 13% above VT	42.7±12.7Lowest about the VT average
	Ludlow and Wells River 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%	17.1%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Wells River and Ludlow 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%	19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.3%Highest VT: 43.8%	16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Highest VT: 7%	0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7%
	Ludlow and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,667±$19kHighest 30% below VT	$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT
	Ludlow and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$304,000±$32kHighest 4% below VT	$170,800±$103kLowest 46% below VT
	Ludlow and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,018±$91Highest 18% below VT	$900±$336Lowest 27% below VT
	Ludlow and Wells River 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	$4,154Lowest 18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4%	47.6%±14.8Highest VT: 48.4%
	Wells River and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1%	38.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.4%Highest VT: 73.2%	47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 38 yrs older than VT	1938 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 10% below VT	34 minHighest 43% above VT
Work from home	17.3%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9%	5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Ludlow and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.