Compare towns
Waltham vs Worcester vs Ripton vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Waltham | Worcester | Ripton | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 452Lowest |
831Highest |
508 |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
59.2±4.4 37% above VT |
| Waltham and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,500±$14k 20% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% below 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 | $329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
| Ripton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$113 11% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
— | $1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
| Grafton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,714Highest 13% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,843 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Grafton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Athens Grafton School District |
| 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 | 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.