Compare towns
Windham vs Ludlow vs Middlesex vs Townshend
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 youngest population (median age 44.2).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Townshend has the most affordable homes ($287k 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 | Windham | Ludlow | Middlesex | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
1,990Highest |
1,943 |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
52.2±6.2 21% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Ludlow 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Ludlow and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Middlesex and Windham 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±$46k 17% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
| Middlesex and Ludlow 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
| Middlesex and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 18% above VT |
$4,890Lowest about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend 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% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Townshend 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.1 |
| 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.