Compare towns
Worcester vs West Fairlee vs Ripton
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 people working from home (23.6%).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | West Fairlee | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Highest |
711 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
50.3±7.6Highest 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| West Fairlee 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% |
13.5%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| West Fairlee and Worcester 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% |
29.7%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
— |
| West Fairlee 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 |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and West Fairlee 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Ripton 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.