Compare towns
Worcester vs Fairfield vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Worcester | Fairfield | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831 |
1,938Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% 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 | 12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,056±$441Highest 14% below VT |
— |
| Fairfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | 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 |
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.