Compare towns
Ludlow vs Ripton vs Reading 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Ripton | Reading | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,990Highest |
508Lowest |
699 |
1,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
| Ludlow and Reading 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest 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% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Ripton 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±6.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
| Ripton and Cavendish 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading 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 |
$1,000±$546Lowest 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Ripton 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% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 | None yet | 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.