Compare towns

Ludlow vs Peru vs Windham vs Dover

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).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Dover has the most people working from home (23.2%).

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.

MeasureLudlowPeruWindhamDover
People
Population
1,990Highest
434Lowest
594
1,466
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
— —
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
52.2±6.2
21% above VT
45.3±8.6
5% above VT
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
53.5±8.3Highest
24% 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%
8.5%±5.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
10.2%±5.7
VT: 17.9%
Windham 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%
21.4%±5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
29.5%±6.2
VT: 21.4%
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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
54.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48.1%
VT: 43.8%
48.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±6.4Highest
VT: 7%
1.8%±3.2
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2.5%±2.9
VT: 7%
Ludlow and Dover 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
$151,875±$83kHighest
87% above VT
$94,500±$12k
16% above VT
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% below VT
Peru and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$370,200±$46k
17% above VT
$400,000±$105kHighest
26% above VT
$353,900±$20k
12% above VT
$332,900±$55kLowest
5% above VT
Peru 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
$1,271±$820Highest
about the VT average
—
$670±$49Lowest
46% below VT
Peru 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
$5,000
about the VT average
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$4,510Lowest
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.2%±25.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
29%±47.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
38.1%±17.2
VT: 48.4%
Ludlow and Windham 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%
1.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
79%
VT: 73.2%
82.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81.1%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1981Lowest
5 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
14% below VT
28 minHighest
19% above VT
27 min
14% above VT
22 min
6% below VT
Work from home
21.3%±5.2
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±16.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
23.2%±11.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
Dover and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 — — River Valleys Unified School District #73
High school in town None in town — — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.