Compare towns
Ripton vs Worcester vs Orange
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%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Orange has the most kids (15.6% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
831 |
957Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
| Orange and Ripton 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% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orange and Worcester 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% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Ripton 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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 |
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.


