What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ludlow has the most expensive homes ($304k median).

Wheelock has the most homeowners (97.9%).

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	Wheelock
People
Population	808Highest	717Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.7%Highest VT: +2.8%	-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	48.7±5.6Lowest 13% above VT	51±5.6Highest 18% above VT
	Wheelock 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%	18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Wheelock 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%	29.4%±4.7Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Ludlow and Wheelock 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%	34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%	2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7%
	Wheelock and Ludlow 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	$64,792±$20kHighest 20% below VT
	Wheelock and Ludlow 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	$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,018±$91 18% below VT	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,237Highest 16% below VT	$2,937Lowest 42% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33%±13.8Highest VT: 48.4%	0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Ludlow and Wheelock 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%	8.7% VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%	97.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT	1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 10% below VT	28 minHighest 17% above VT
Work from home	17.3%±6.4Lowest VT: 16.9%	21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9%
	Wheelock and Ludlow 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.