Compare towns
Ripton vs Worcester vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508 |
831Highest |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
| Waltham 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%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$97,500±$14k 20% above VT |
| Ripton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
| Ripton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,096±$113Highest 11% below VT |
| Waltham and Worcester 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 |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,714Highest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Waltham 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Waltham 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.