Compare towns
Grafton vs Worcester vs Ripton vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666 |
831Highest |
508 |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4 37% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
| Waltham and Grafton 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%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±2 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
39%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% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$97,500±$14k 20% above VT |
| Ripton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$329,700±$51k 4% above 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 |
— | $1,096±$113 11% below VT |
| Grafton and Waltham 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,714Highest 13% above 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% |
29.2%±58.6 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 18% above 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% |
20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Athens Grafton 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 | 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.