Compare towns
Worcester vs Westford 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 affordable homes ($271k median).
Westford has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
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 | Westford | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831 |
2,290Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
44.1±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% 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% |
16.9%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westford and Worcester 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% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$112,750±$12k 39% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Westford 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 |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Westford and Ripton 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 |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,282Highest 25% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Westford 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% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Westford 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 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | 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.