Compare towns
Manchester vs Windham vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Ludlow has the most affordable homes ($370k 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 | Manchester | Windham | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,486 |
16,038Highest |
1,990Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.5±6.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
52.2±6.2 34% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,886±$23k 18% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $454,600±$47k 37% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$370,200±$46kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,057±$76Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,112±$151 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,923 90% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,890Lowest 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±13.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Manchester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Manchester and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Windham School District | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.