Compare towns

Elmore vs Grafton 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

Elmore has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
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.

MeasureElmoreGraftonRiptonWorcester
People
Population
964Highest
666
508Lowest
831
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.6%
VT: +2.8%
-5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45±3.5Lowest
4% above VT
59.2±4.4Highest
37% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
47±2.7
9% above VT
Grafton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.4%±9.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
5.9%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±3.9
VT: 17.9%
Elmore and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.6%±2.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
34.2%±2Highest
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±2.5
VT: 21.4%
Grafton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
47.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.4%
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
53%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
7.1%±5
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,750±$24k
22% above VT
$76,111±$7k
6% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$73,833±$18kLowest
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
$315,800±$47k
about the VT average
$343,200±$85k
8% above VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$271,100±$27kLowest
14% below VT
Ripton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,225±$263
about the VT average
$1,288±$174Highest
4% above VT
—
$1,023±$136Lowest
17% below VT
Grafton and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,066Highest
about the VT average
$4,843
4% below VT
$4,915
about the VT average
$4,421Lowest
12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.8%±65.8
VT: 48.4%
53.8%±69.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Grafton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
4.5%
VT: 10.1%
8.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
89.9%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
85.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs newer than VT
1978Highest
2 yrs newer than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1976
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
25% above VT
24 min
4% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
29 min
22% above VT
Work from home
9.4%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
15.8%±5.4
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
School district Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 Athens Grafton School District 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 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.