Compare towns
Ludlow vs Bow vs Bristol
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 (20 min average).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($337k 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 | Bow | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,990Lowest |
8,335Highest |
3,778 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.2±6.2Highest 34% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47.9±4.8 23% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 31.1%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ludlow and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,885±$14kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$74,620±$8k 8% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,200±$46k 11% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$337,300±$46kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,112±$151Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,275±$181 10% below U.S. |
| Bow and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,890Lowest 57% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$5,978 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.2%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±14.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bristol and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Ludlow 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #31 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | Bow School District | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Mt. Abraham Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.9Lowest |
| 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.