Compare towns
Worcester vs Ripton vs Barre vs Middletown Springs
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%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Middletown Springs has the most kids (24% 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 | Ripton | Barre | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
508Lowest |
8,412Highest |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
| Middletown Springs 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Middletown Springs 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$82,000±$12k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$262,200±$24k 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
— | $1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,208±$438Highest about the VT average |
| Middletown Springs and Barre 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
$4,595 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Barre 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Ripton 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 | — | — | #19 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.