Compare towns
Bellows Falls vs Ripton vs Worcester vs St. Albans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
St. Albans has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
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 | Bellows Falls | Ripton | Worcester | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,891 |
508Lowest |
831 |
6,954Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
38.7±2Lowest 10% below VT |
| Ripton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
13.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$57,980±$7k 29% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$263,400±$18k 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$109 16% below VT |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,150±$78Highest 7% below VT |
| St. Albans and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,448 12% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,436 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.8%±11.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
19.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
49%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±3.5 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 | — | — | — | #46 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.