Compare towns

Windham vs Webster vs Worcester vs Ripton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).

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.

MeasureWindhamWebsterWorcesterRipton
People
Population
594
12,228Highest
831
508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
37.2±2.1Lowest
4% below U.S.
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Webster 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
U.S.: 17.2%
15.7%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
18.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$63,837±$8kLowest
21% below U.S.
$73,833±$18k
9% below U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
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
6% above U.S.
$333,100±$14k
about the U.S. average
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,198±$85Highest
15% below U.S.
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
—
Webster and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$3,234Lowest
4% above U.S.
$4,421
42% above U.S.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
46.1%±7.4
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
45.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
28 min
4% above U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
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 — #271 of 282 in MA — —
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
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.