Compare towns
Marshfield vs Worcester vs Ripton vs Wolcott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marshfield has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Wolcott has the most renters (20.5% rent).
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 | Marshfield | Worcester | Ripton | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,863Highest |
831 |
508Lowest |
1,507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
| Ripton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.5% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
31.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,313±$10kLowest 26% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$70,259±$10k 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $214,100±$37kLowest 32% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$126Highest 7% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
— | $1,059±$118 14% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,668Lowest 27% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,930 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 23% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.5%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Wolcott School District |
| 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 | 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.