Compare towns
Ludlow vs Halifax vs Chester
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%).
Halifax has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Halifax | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,990 |
847Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
49.7±4.7 15% 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% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax 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% |
22.6%±7.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 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% |
44.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 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 |
$63,889±$7kHighest 21% below VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
| Halifax 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 |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,112±$151Highest 10% below VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Ludlow and Chester 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 |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax 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 | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | Halifax School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.