Compare towns
Worcester vs Ripton vs Orange vs Elmore
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 people working from home (23.6%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Orange has the most renters (30% rent).
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% 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 | Orange | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
508Lowest |
7,573Highest |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45±3.5 16% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±9.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Elmore and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% 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% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$98,750±$24k 22% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$315,800±$47k 5% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
— | $775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,225±$263Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Elmore and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,066Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±65.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Orange 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Ripton 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 | — | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.