Compare towns
Peru vs Ludlow vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Ludlow has the oldest population (median age 52.2).
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Peru | Ludlow | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 434Lowest |
1,990 |
2,092Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| Ludlow and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Ludlow and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
| Peru and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
$370,200±$46kLowest 17% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$1,112±$151Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Dorset and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$4,890Lowest about the VT average |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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.