We introduce an analytical iterative method, the density matrix recursion method, to generate arbitrary reduced density matrices of superpositions of short-range dimer coverings on periodic or non-periodic quantum spin-1/2 ladder lattices, with an arbitrary number of legs. The method can be used to calculate bipartite as well as multipartite physical properties, including bipartite and multi-partite entanglement. We apply this technique to distinguish between even- and odd-legged ladders. Specifically, we show that while genuine multi-partite entanglement decreases with increasing system size for the even-legged ladder states, it does the opposite for odd-legged ones.