Compare towns
Ludlow vs Stratton vs Chester 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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
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.
| Measure | Ludlow | Stratton | Chester | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,990 |
532Lowest |
2,992Highest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.2±6.2 21% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 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% VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 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±$14k 32% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.2%±25.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Ludlow and Dover 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.