Compare towns
Worcester vs Ripton vs Waltham 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 affordable homes ($271k median).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
Calais 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 | Waltham | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
508 |
452Lowest |
1,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Waltham 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%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
39%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% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$97,500±$14k 20% above 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±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$329,700±$51k 4% above 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±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
— | $1,096±$113 11% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Waltham 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 |
$5,714 13% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Calais 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% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Calais 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.