Compare towns
Windham vs Ripton vs Royalton vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Royalton has the most renters (36.5% rent).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Windham | Ripton | Royalton | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
508Lowest |
2,752Highest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Ripton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
42.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$103,938±$24k 28% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Ripton and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,040±$391Highest 16% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Royalton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,675 7% below VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Windham 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 | — | — | #48 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | White River Unified School District #79 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | White River Valley High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.