Compare towns
Windham vs Ripton vs Waitsfield 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 youngest population (median age 44.2).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Windham | Ripton | Waitsfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
508Lowest |
1,918Highest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
44.3±5.3 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%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Windham 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% |
28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Waitsfield 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 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 |
$84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Ripton and Windham 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±$61k 25% above VT |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Waitsfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,200±$821Highest about the VT average |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Waitsfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 18% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,208Highest 23% above 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% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 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 | ||||
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.