Compare towns
Ludlow vs Mapleton vs Dover vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ludlow has the most expensive homes ($370k median).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Bristol has the most renters (28.7% rent).
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 | Mapleton | Dover | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,990 |
1,884 |
1,466Lowest |
3,778Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.2±6.2 34% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3Highest 38% above U.S. |
47.9±4.8 23% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.1%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$74,620±$8k 8% below U.S. |
| Mapleton 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±$46kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$337,300±$46k about the U.S. 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 21% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$670±$49 53% below U.S. |
$1,275±$181Highest 10% below U.S. |
| Bristol and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,890 57% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,510 45% above U.S. |
$5,978Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.2%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±14.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bristol 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.