Compare towns
Wallingford vs Orleans vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wallingford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k median).
Ludlow has the most people working from home (17.3%).
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 | Wallingford | Orleans | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 643Lowest |
809Highest |
808 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±22.3 11% above VT |
41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below VT |
48.7±5.6Highest 13% above VT |
| Ludlow and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Orleans and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±7.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±0.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
24.8% VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Orleans and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,714±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
$56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT |
| Wallingford and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $239,000±$49k 25% below VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
$304,000±$32kHighest 4% below VT |
| Ludlow and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $927±$140 25% below VT |
$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
$1,018±$91Highest 18% below VT |
| Ludlow and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,743 26% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
$4,237Highest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±16.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ludlow and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.1% VT: 73.2% |
64.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938 38 yrs older than VT |
1938 38 yrs older than VT |
1938 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 15% below VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 5.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.