Compare towns
Pownal vs Ripton vs Worcester vs Petersburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pownal has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Petersburgh has the most affordable homes ($170k 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 | Pownal | Ripton | Worcester | Petersburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,265Highest |
508Lowest |
831 |
1,310 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±9.1 26% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
51.3±6.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Petersburgh and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
16%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Pownal and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,163±$21kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$77,692±$15k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,600±$32k 23% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$170,300±$23kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— | $1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,100±$630Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Petersburgh and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,560 14% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$3,223Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.2%±42.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Ripton 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 | #67 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.