Compare towns

Ripton vs Webster 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%).
Webster has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).

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.

MeasureRiptonWebsterWorcester
People
Population
508Lowest
12,228Highest
831
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
37.2±2.1Lowest
4% 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%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.7%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
18.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$63,837±$8kLowest
21% below U.S.
$73,833±$18k
9% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
$333,100±$14k
about the U.S. average
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
Ripton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,198±$85Highest
15% below U.S.
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
Webster and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,915Highest
58% above U.S.
$3,234Lowest
4% above U.S.
$4,421
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.1%±7.4
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Webster 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%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
45.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
28 min
4% above U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
Work from home
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
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 — #271 of 282 in MA —
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.