What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alexandria has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).

Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Alexandria	Ryegate
People
Population	1,983Highest	1,059Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.6±5Highest 35% above U.S.	41.2±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Alexandria and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ryegate and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,194±$8kHighest 10% above U.S.	$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Alexandria and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$323,300±$27kHighest about the U.S. average	$219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,135±$273Highest 20% below U.S.	$908±$236Lowest 36% below U.S.
	Alexandria and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,021Highest 61% above U.S.	$3,472Lowest 11% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.6%±40.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.9%±29.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ryegate and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 38% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	17.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Alexandria and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.