Compare towns
Manchester vs Dummerston vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Ludlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Manchester | Dummerston | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,486Highest |
2,090 |
1,990Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
52.2±6.2 21% above VT |
| Manchester and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,886±$23k 17% above VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Dummerston and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $454,600±$47kHighest 44% above VT |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
$370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
| Manchester and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,112±$151 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,923Highest 18% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,890 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Manchester and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 39% below VT |
21 minHighest 11% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Manchester 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 | #37 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.