Compare towns
Manchester vs Mendon 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 most expensive homes ($455k median).
Mendon has the most homeowners (92.2%).
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 | Mendon | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,486Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
52.2±6.2Lowest 21% above VT |
| Manchester and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Manchester and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Mendon 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% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,886±$23k 17% above VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Mendon 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 |
$357,000±$44kLowest 13% 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 |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,112±$151 10% below VT |
| Mendon and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,923Highest 18% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$4,890Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±13.9 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Manchester 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 39% below VT |
17 min 28% below VT |
20 minHighest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Manchester and Mendon 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 | — | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.