Compare towns
Ludlow vs Worcester vs Dover 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 most kids (14.1% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Bristol has the highest household income ($75k).
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 | Worcester | Dover | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,990 |
831Lowest |
1,466 |
3,778Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.2±6.2 21% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
47.9±4.8 11% 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% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Ludlow and Worcester 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8 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% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±6.4 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2 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±$14k 32% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$74,620±$8kHighest 8% below VT |
| Bristol 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 |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
| Ludlow and Bristol 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 |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% 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 | $4,890 about the VT average |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Dover 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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 | 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.