Compare towns
Athens vs Exeter vs Ripton vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most renters (26.3% rent).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
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 | Athens | Exeter | Ripton | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
913Highest |
508 |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Lowest 22% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
59.2±4.4Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Grafton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$76,111±$7k 6% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$343,200±$85k 3% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 20% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
— | $1,288±$174Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438Highest 74% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,843 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±69.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Grafton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athens and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.