Compare towns
Windham vs South Hero vs Worcester vs Ripton
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).
South Hero has the most expensive homes ($558k median).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
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 | South Hero | Worcester | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
1,586Highest |
831 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.5±4.8Highest 19% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| South Hero and Ripton 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% |
14.8%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and South Hero 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% |
26.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and South Hero 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% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
| South Hero and Ripton 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 |
$558,300±$46kHighest 76% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,439±$221Highest 17% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 18% above VT |
$7,858Highest 56% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
32.6%±21 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.1% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
26.3%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| South Hero and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | South Hero 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 | 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.