Compare towns

Ludlow vs Dorset vs Dover

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ludlow has the most renters (28.1% rent).
Dorset has the highest household income ($111k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).

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.

MeasureLudlowDorsetDover
People
Population
1,990
2,092Highest
1,466Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%
VT: +2.8%
+5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
52.2±6.2
21% above VT
45.9±7.5Lowest
6% above VT
53.5±8.3Highest
24% above VT
Dover and Ludlow 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%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
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%
29.5%±6.2
VT: 21.4%
Ludlow and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
72.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±6.4Highest
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.1
VT: 7%
2.5%±2.9Lowest
VT: 7%
Ludlow and Dorset 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
$111,250±$40kHighest
37% above VT
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$370,200±$46k
17% above VT
$569,200±$57kHighest
80% above VT
$332,900±$55kLowest
5% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,112±$151
10% below VT
$1,420±$296Highest
15% above VT
$670±$49Lowest
46% below VT
Dorset 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
$7,489Highest
49% above VT
$4,510Lowest
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.2%±25.2
VT: 48.4%
74.4%±22.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
38.1%±17.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Dorset and Ludlow 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%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81.1%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
14% below VT
22 min
8% below VT
22 minHighest
6% below VT
Work from home
21.3%±5.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
29.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
23.2%±11.1
VT: 16.9%
Dorset and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 River Valleys Unified School District #73
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.