Compare towns
Ludlow vs Windham vs Ripton 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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($337k 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 | Windham | Ripton | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,990 |
594 |
508Lowest |
3,778Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% 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% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Ludlow 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8Lowest 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% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±6.4 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
| Ripton and Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$337,300±$46kLowest 7% above VT |
| Ripton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,112±$151Lowest 10% below VT |
— | — | $1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
| Bristol and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,890Lowest about the VT average |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Bristol 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow and Windham 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 | — | — | — | #31 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.