Compare towns
Westford vs Worcester vs Ripton vs Fairfax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Fairfax has the most kids (24% 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 | Westford | Worcester | Ripton | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,290 |
831 |
508Lowest |
5,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+17% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
| Ripton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.3% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.5%±4.6 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,750±$12k 39% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
| Fairfax and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
| Westford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
— | $1,080±$131 12% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,282Highest 25% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,497 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 42% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Worcester 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 | — | — | — | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.