Compare towns
Worcester vs Ripton vs Stowe vs Elmore
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%).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
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 | Stowe | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
508Lowest |
5,285Highest |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
45±3.5Lowest 4% above VT |
| 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% |
22.5%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
47.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
| 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±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
— | $1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
| Stowe and Elmore 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 |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$5,066 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Elmore 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest 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 | Stowe Town School District | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town |
| 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.