Compare towns
Ludlow vs Dover vs Bristol vs Plainfield
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 expensive homes ($370k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Bristol has the highest household income ($75k).
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
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 | Dover | Bristol | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,990 |
1,466 |
3,778Highest |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.2±6.2 21% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
47.9±4.8Lowest 11% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$74,620±$8kHighest 8% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Bristol and Plainfield 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 |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
$318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
| 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 |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Bristol and Plainfield 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 |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
10.1% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
25 minHighest 5% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.