Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Ripton vs Worcester vs Waterford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Waterford has the most kids (16.7% under 18).
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 | Bakersfield | Ripton | Worcester | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,109 |
508Lowest |
831 |
1,279Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
45.4±5.3Lowest 5% above VT |
| Ripton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterford and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$109,375±$19k 35% above VT |
| Ripton and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$271,500±$22k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
— |
| Bakersfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,823Lowest 24% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,238 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
— |
| Ripton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
99%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 22% above VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.3%±7.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.