Compare towns
Worcester vs Ripton vs Plainfield vs Stowe
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%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k 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 | Plainfield | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
508Lowest |
2,522 |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.3±7.6 19% 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Stowe 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% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%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% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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 19% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Stowe 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. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Plainfield 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe 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 | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Plainfield 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 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.