Compare towns
Grafton vs Worcester vs Ripton vs Rockingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Rockingham has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
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 | Grafton | Worcester | Ripton | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666 |
831 |
508Lowest |
4,807Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
46.4±2.6Lowest 8% 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 | 5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Rockingham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±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+ | 48.4% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$70,857±$16kLowest 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$210,900±$14kLowest 33% 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 | $1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
— | $1,062±$101 14% below VT |
| Grafton and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,843 4% below VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,887 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
46.7%±13.7 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 | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
16.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
61.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Rockingham 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 | — | — | — | #65 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Athens Grafton School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Rockingham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.