Compare towns
Windham vs Worcester vs Charlotte 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 youngest population (median age 44.2).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Charlotte has the most expensive homes ($695k median).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 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 | Windham | Worcester | Charlotte | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
831 |
3,916Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
52.2±5Highest 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Charlotte and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Charlotte 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest 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% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
66.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$144,375±$27kHighest 78% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
| Charlotte 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 |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$695,300±$53kHighest 120% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,738±$803Highest 41% above VT |
— |
| Charlotte 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 |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$9,221Highest 83% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.1%±28.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Charlotte and Ripton 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
95.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
29.8%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Charlotte 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 | — | — | #3 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 Our Story | 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.