Compare towns
Lowell 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
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
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 | Lowell | Worcester | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,070Highest |
831 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,023±$136Highest 17% below VT |
— |
| Worcester and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3Lowest 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 | Lowell 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 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.