Compare towns
Ludlow vs Barton vs Cavendish vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ludlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Cavendish has the highest household income ($89k).
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 | Barton | Cavendish | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,990 |
730Lowest |
1,242 |
3,778Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
| Ludlow and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±6 VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
41.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Ludlow and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,885±$14k 32% below VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
| Cavendish and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,200±$46kHighest 17% above VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
| Ludlow and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,112±$151 10% below VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
| Bristol and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,890 about the VT average |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,948 22% below VT |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
10.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — | #31 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.