Compare towns
Ludlow vs Putney vs Dover vs Cavendish
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 expensive homes ($370k median).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Cavendish has the most kids (18.3% under 18).
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 | Putney | Dover | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,990 |
2,622Highest |
1,466 |
1,242Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.2±6.2 21% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
45.2±5.9 5% 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Cavendish and Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±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% VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±6.4 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,885±$14k 32% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
| Cavendish and Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$670±$49 46% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
| Ludlow and Cavendish 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney 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 VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
22 minHighest 6% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet | 18 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.