Compare towns
Reading vs Ludlow vs Plymouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Ludlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($338k 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 | Reading | Ludlow | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699 |
1,990Highest |
533Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Lowest 19% above VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
52.2±9.6Highest 21% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.7%±6.1 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+ | 28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2 VT: 21.4% |
32.6%±10.4Highest 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+ | 46% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.9 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 | $85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$87,614±$8kHighest 8% above 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 | $377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
$337,900±$21kLowest 7% 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 | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,112±$151 10% below VT |
$1,299±$171Highest 5% above VT |
| Plymouth and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,890Lowest about the VT average |
$5,585 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
31.4%±53Lowest 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 | 8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9Lowest 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.