Compare towns
Ripton vs Sheldon vs Stowe vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Ripton | Sheldon | Stowe | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
2,267 |
5,285Highest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
47±2.7 9% 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 | 11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Ripton and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Stowe and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Stowe Town School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.