Compare towns
Barton vs Elmore vs Ripton vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Elmore has the most homeowners (92.8%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Barton | Elmore | Ripton | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
964Highest |
508Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
47±2.7 9% 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 | 24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Ripton and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Ripton and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,225±$263Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Elmore and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,066Highest about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
29 min 25% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Ripton 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | — | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school 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.