Compare towns
Woodstock vs Hartford vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Woodstock has the most expensive homes ($582k median).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Ludlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Woodstock | Hartford | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,027 |
10,736Highest |
1,990Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+10.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56±3.6Highest 30% above VT |
43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
52.2±6.2 21% above VT |
| Woodstock and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Hartford and Woodstock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.7%±5.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Woodstock and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
47.6% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Ludlow and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $120,938±$29kHighest 49% above VT |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $582,000±$84kHighest 84% above VT |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
$370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,430±$346Highest 16% above VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,112±$151Lowest 10% below VT |
| Woodstock and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,449Highest 88% above VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
$4,890Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ludlow and Woodstock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.4% VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 7% below VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 32.8%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Woodstock 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 | #10 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Hartford School District | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | Woodstock Union Middle/High School | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
9.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.