Compare towns
Worcester vs Ripton vs Cornish vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% 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 | Cornish | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
508Lowest |
1,816 |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Cornish 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— | $1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Cornish School District | 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.