Compare towns
Worcester vs Ripton vs Charlotte
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Charlotte has the most expensive homes ($695k 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 | Charlotte |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831 |
508Lowest |
3,916Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
52.2±5Highest 21% above VT |
| Charlotte 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% |
19.6%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Charlotte and Worcester 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% |
22.3%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Charlotte 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$144,375±$27kHighest 78% above VT |
| Charlotte and Ripton 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 |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$695,300±$53kHighest 120% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
— | $1,738±$803Highest 41% above VT |
| Charlotte 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$9,221Highest 83% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
56.1%±28.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Charlotte 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% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
95.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.8%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Charlotte 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 | — | — | #3 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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.