What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amherst has the most kids (19.2% 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.

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

Measure	Amherst	Ripton
People
Population	130,546Highest	508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.1±0.8Lowest about the U.S. average	47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S.
	Ripton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±1Highest U.S.: 22%	11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	48%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.3%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ripton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,483±$2kLowest 16% above U.S.	$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$311,600±$7kLowest 6% below U.S.	$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,393±$45 about the U.S. average	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,935Highest 90% above U.S.	$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	52.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Amherst and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 24% below U.S.	24 minHighest 9% below U.S.
Work from home	15.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ripton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#72 of 484 in NY	—
School district	AMHERST CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SWEET HOME CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town	WILLIAMSVILLE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.