Compare towns
Ludlow vs Chester vs Cavendish
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%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Chester | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,990 |
2,992Highest |
1,242Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
| Ludlow and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Cavendish and Ludlow 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% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ludlow and Chester 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 VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
| Cavendish and Chester 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 |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
| Ludlow and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,112±$151Highest 10% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
| Ludlow and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,890Highest about the VT average |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.2%±25.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
| Ludlow and Cavendish 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% |
7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.