Compare towns
Plymouth vs Reading vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($338k median).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% 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 | Plymouth | Reading | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 533Lowest |
699 |
1,990Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.2±9.6Highest 21% above VT |
51.1±7.6Lowest 19% above VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±6.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.6%±10.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Plymouth and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Ludlow and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,614±$8kHighest 8% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Plymouth and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,900±$21kLowest 7% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
| Reading and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$171Highest 5% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,112±$151 10% below VT |
| Plymouth and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,585 11% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,890Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±53Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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.