Compare towns
Ludlow vs Pawlet 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%).
Pawlet has the most kids (20.3% 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 | Pawlet | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,990 |
1,480Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.6% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
47.9±7.5Lowest 11% above 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% |
20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet 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% |
27.3%±2.6Lowest 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% |
37.5% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9Lowest 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 |
$62,273±$14kHighest 23% below VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
| Pawlet 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 |
$266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,112±$151 10% below VT |
$1,153±$215Highest 7% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Pawlet and Ludlow 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 |
$3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.2%±25.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ludlow and Pawlet 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% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow and Pawlet 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 | Mettawee School District #84 | 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 | 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.