Compare towns
Bristol 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
Bristol has the most renters (28.7% rent).
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 | Bristol | Ripton | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
508Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
| Bristol and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Ripton and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Bristol and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Bristol 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 | #31 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| 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.