Compare towns

Ludlow vs White River Junction 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).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Cavendish has the highest household income ($89k).

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.

MeasureLudlowWhite River JunctionDoverCavendish
People
Population
1,990
3,364Highest
1,466
1,242Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%
VT: +2.8%
+10.8%
VT: +2.8%
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
52.2±6.2
21% above VT
33.7±3.2Lowest
22% 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%
17.1%±5
VT: 17.9%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.3%±4.8Highest
VT: 17.9%
Cavendish and White River Junction 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%
12.5%±3.6Lowest
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%
38.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
39.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±6.4Highest
VT: 7%
1.2%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2.5%±2.9
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
$77,168±$4k
5% below VT
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% below VT
$89,063±$29kHighest
10% above VT
Cavendish and White River Junction 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
$278,800±$78kLowest
12% below VT
$332,900±$55k
5% above VT
$285,100±$40k
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±$151
10% below VT
$1,222±$216Highest
about the VT average
$670±$49Lowest
46% below VT
$1,000±$546
19% below VT
White River Junction 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
$5,651Highest
12% above VT
$4,510
10% below VT
$3,948Lowest
22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.2%±25.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
42.9%±17.3
VT: 48.4%
38.1%±17.2
VT: 48.4%
28.9%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Ludlow and White River Junction 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%
12.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
6.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%
VT: 73.2%
43.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
81.1%
VT: 73.2%
81.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1963Lowest
13 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1968
8 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
14% below VT
15 minLowest
35% below VT
22 minHighest
6% below VT
19 min
21% below VT
Work from home
21.3%±5.2
VT: 16.9%
15.7%±5.8Lowest
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
School district Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 — 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
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.