Compare towns
Ripton vs Durham vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Ripton | Durham | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
15,080Highest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Worcester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Durham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 58% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Durham 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 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Oyster River Coop School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.