Compare towns
Worcester vs Ripton vs Castleton vs Stowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
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 | Castleton | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
508Lowest |
4,453 |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
46.3±7.6 7% 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Castleton 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Stowe 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
| Ripton and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
— | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
| Stowe and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 12% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 min 17% below VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.3 |
| 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.