Compare towns
Windham vs Ludlow vs Brookline vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Windham | Ludlow | Brookline | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
1,990Highest |
531Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Ludlow and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$370,200±$46kHighest 17% above VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Ludlow and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,112±$151 10% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,890 about the VT average |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.