Compare towns

Windham vs Reading vs Ludlow

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).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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.

MeasureWindhamReadingLudlow
People
Population
594Lowest
699
1,990Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+10.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
51.1±7.6
19% above VT
52.2±6.2Highest
21% above VT
Ludlow and Reading 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%
18.5%±4.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.1%±6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Reading and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
31.1%±2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Ludlow and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
46%
VT: 43.8%
45.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
5.8%±6.4Highest
VT: 7%
Ludlow and Reading 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
$85,000±$19k
5% above VT
$54,885±$14kLowest
32% below VT
Windham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20kLowest
12% above VT
$377,200±$72kHighest
19% above VT
$370,200±$46k
17% 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±$151Highest
10% below VT
Ludlow and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$5,754
14% above VT
$4,890Lowest
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Lowest
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
45.2%±25.2
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
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.4%
VT: 10.1%
5.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
71.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
14% above VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
20 minLowest
14% below VT
Work from home
20.5%±5.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
21.3%±5.2
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.