Compare towns
Worcester vs Grafton vs Ripton vs Calais
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 affordable homes ($271k median).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Grafton | Ripton | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
666 |
508Lowest |
1,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Grafton and Ripton 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% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Grafton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% VT: 43.8% |
48.4% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 7% |
7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais 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 |
$343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais 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 |
$1,288±$174 4% above VT |
— | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Grafton 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 |
$4,843 4% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Grafton and Ripton 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Calais 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 | Athens Grafton School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None 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.