Compare towns
Ludlow vs Jay vs Dover 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 the most renters (28.1% rent).
Jay has the highest household income ($75k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Chester has the youngest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Jay | Dover | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,990 |
471Lowest |
1,466 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.2±6.2 21% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
49.7±4.7Lowest 15% 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% |
14.2%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Jay 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 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% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 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±$14k 32% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
| Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Ludlow and Dover 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 |
— | $670±$49Lowest 46% 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 | $4,890Highest about the VT average |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.2%±25.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ludlow and Jay 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Dover 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None 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 | 6 photos → |
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.