Compare towns
Waltham vs Worcester vs Ripton vs Mount Tabor
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Mount Tabor has the most expensive homes ($421k 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 | Waltham | Worcester | Ripton | Mount Tabor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 452 |
831Highest |
508 |
304Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest 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 |
57.8±10.6 34% above VT |
| Waltham and Mount Tabor 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% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest 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% |
42.4%±18.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Waltham and Mount Tabor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±4Lowest 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 |
— |
| 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±$61k 25% above VT |
$420,500±$76kHighest 33% above VT |
| Mount Tabor and Ripton 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 |
— | $2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,714Highest 13% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,233 4% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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 | 5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
11%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
46 minHighest 94% 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% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest 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 | — |
| High school 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.