Compare towns
Ludlow vs Reading 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 renters (28.1% rent).
Reading has the most homeowners (84.9%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k 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 | Reading | Dover | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,990Highest |
699Lowest |
1,466 |
1,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.2±6.2 21% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Cavendish 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2Lowest 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Ludlow and Cavendish 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
| Cavendish and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
| Reading and Ludlow 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
| Ludlow and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% 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% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older 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 |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 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.