Compare towns
Worcester vs Newark vs Ripton vs Plainfield
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%).
Newark has the most kids (22% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% rent).
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 | Newark | Ripton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
727 |
508Lowest |
1,314Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.5% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
41.4±6Lowest 4% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
| Plainfield 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% |
22%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Newark and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$72,929±$7k 10% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Plainfield 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 |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
— | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 12% below VT |
$3,771Lowest 25% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
34 minHighest 44% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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.