Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Worcester vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Bridgewater | Worcester | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980Highest |
831 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,023±$136Highest 17% below VT |
— |
| Worcester and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.