Compare towns
Westminster vs Worcester vs Ripton vs Hartland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Worcester has the most renters (14.1% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Hartland has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Westminster | Worcester | Ripton | Hartland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999 |
831 |
508Lowest |
3,460Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
55.8±5.1Highest 29% above VT |
| Hartland and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.4%±5.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
36.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$86,136±$23k 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$348,600±$39k 10% above VT |
| Ripton and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,023±$136Highest 17% below VT |
— | — |
| Worcester and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,437Highest 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.1%±89.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±6.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | — | — | #29 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Hartland School District |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.