Compare towns
Milton vs Worcester vs Ripton vs South Hero
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milton has the most kids (17.6% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
South Hero has the most expensive homes ($558k median).
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 | Milton | Worcester | Ripton | South Hero |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,769Highest |
831 |
508Lowest |
1,586 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.6±2.5Lowest 3% below VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.5±4.8Highest 19% above VT |
| South Hero and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.8%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Milton and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,977±$10k 47% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT |
| South Hero and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,500±$20k 18% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$558,300±$46kHighest 76% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,536±$257Highest 24% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
— | $1,439±$221 17% above VT |
| Milton and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,610 11% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$7,858Highest 56% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±20.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
32.6%±21 VT: 48.4% |
| Milton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.6%±2.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
26.3%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| South Hero and Worcester 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 | #56 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Milton School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | South Hero School District |
| High school in town | Milton Senior High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
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.