Compare towns
Ludlow vs Middlesex 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).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Middlesex | Dover | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,990 |
1,943 |
1,466Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.2±6.2 21% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
49.7±4.7 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Ludlow and Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Middlesex and Ludlow 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.2%±25.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Ludlow and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 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 |
27 min 17% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.