Compare towns
Montpelier 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
Montpelier has the most kids (17.9% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Montpelier | Worcester | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,014Highest |
831 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average |
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 | 17.9%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Montpelier and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,030±$6k about the VT average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 23% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Montpelier 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 | #9 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | Montpelier High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.