What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).

Ludlow has the oldest population (median age 48.7).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Waterbury	Ludlow
People
Population	1,753Highest	808Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest VT: +2.8%	-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	39.6±4.3Lowest 8% below VT	48.7±5.6Highest 13% above VT
	Ludlow and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±7.7Highest VT: 17.9%	13.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Waterbury and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±6.5Lowest VT: 21.4%	30.4%±0.5Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.6%Highest VT: 43.8%	39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0%±0.8Lowest VT: 7%	2.6%±1.6Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$54,273±$13kLowest 33% below VT	$56,667±$19kHighest 30% below VT
	Ludlow and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$375,400±$57kHighest 19% above VT	$304,000±$32kLowest 4% below VT
	Waterbury and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$866±$497Lowest 30% below VT	$1,018±$91Highest 18% below VT
	Ludlow and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,446Highest 8% above VT	$4,237Lowest 16% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.3%±21.1Highest VT: 48.4%	33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Waterbury and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.7%Highest VT: 10.1%	8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.8%Lowest VT: 73.2%	51.4%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest 12 yrs older than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 9% above VT	21 minLowest 10% below VT
Work from home	23%±9.9Highest VT: 16.9%	17.3%±6.4Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Waterbury and Ludlow 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	#20 of 70 in VT	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.