Compare towns
Worcester vs Ripton vs Halifax vs Calais
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 renters (14.1% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | Halifax | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
508Lowest |
847 |
1,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| 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% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Calais 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% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Halifax 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% |
44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais 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±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
— | $875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais 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 |
$4,991 about the VT average |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax 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 | Halifax 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 |
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.