Compare towns
Ludlow vs Dorset 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%).
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Dorset | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,990Lowest |
2,092 |
3,778Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% 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%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset 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% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest 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±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
| Dorset 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±$46k 17% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$337,300±$46kLowest 7% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,112±$151Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,275±$181 3% above VT |
| Dorset and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,890Lowest about the VT average |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,978 19% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.2%±25.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset 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% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
25 minHighest 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset 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 | — | — | #31 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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 | 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.