Compare towns
Manchester vs Sandgate 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 highest household income ($95k).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Ludlow has the youngest population (median age 52.2).
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 | Sandgate | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,486Highest |
435Lowest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.5±6.3 26% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
52.2±6.2Lowest 21% above VT |
| Sandgate and Manchester 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% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Manchester and Ludlow 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% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,886±$23kHighest 17% above VT |
$69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Manchester and Sandgate 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 |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below 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 |
— | $1,112±$151Highest 10% below VT |
| Ludlow and Manchester 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 |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$4,890 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 39% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate 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 | — | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school 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.