Compare towns
Worcester vs Ripton vs Grafton vs Stowe
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%).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
Stowe has the most kids (22.5% 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 | Grafton | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
508Lowest |
666 |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
46.3±7.6Lowest 7% above VT |
| Grafton 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%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Grafton and Ripton 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% |
48.4% 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% |
7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% 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±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
— | $1,288±$174 4% above VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
| Stowe and Grafton 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 |
$4,843 4% 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% |
53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Grafton 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% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89.9% VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer 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 |
24 min 4% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest 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 | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Athens Grafton School District | 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 Our Story | 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.