Compare towns
Ludlow vs Williston vs Cavendish vs Bristol
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 oldest population (median age 52.2).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k median).
Bristol has the most renters (28.7% rent).
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 | Williston | Cavendish | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,990 |
10,144Highest |
1,242Lowest |
3,778 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
| Ludlow and Bristol 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Ludlow and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
| Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
$337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,112±$151 10% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,275±$181 3% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,890 about the VT average |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
25 minHighest 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #31 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 18 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.