Compare towns
Ludlow vs Windham vs Worcester vs Chester
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 highest household income ($95k).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Worcester | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,990 |
594Lowest |
831 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Ludlow and Chester 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 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% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±6.4 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Ludlow 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 |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
| Windham and Worcester 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 |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Ludlow and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,112±$151Highest 10% below VT |
— | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Ludlow and Worcester 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 |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.2%±25.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ludlow and Windham 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 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.