Compare towns
Ludlow vs West Fairlee 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).
West Fairlee has the highest household income ($77k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | West Fairlee | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,990Highest |
711Lowest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.2±6.2 21% above VT |
50.3±7.6Lowest 17% 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%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Ludlow and West Fairlee 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% |
29.7%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and West Fairlee 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% |
44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ludlow and West Fairlee 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 |
$76,500±$16kHighest 6% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Ludlow 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 |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above 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±$151 10% below VT |
$1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| West Fairlee 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 |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| West Fairlee 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% |
7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.