Compare towns
Athens vs Exeter vs Ripton vs Whiting
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 people working from home (19.3%).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 51.7).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Whiting has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
913Highest |
508 |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Ripton 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%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Exeter 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest 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% |
6.2%±4 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. |
$91,250±$38k 13% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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. |
$280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 20% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
— | $1,204±$519Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Whiting 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. |
$4,227 36% 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% |
58.3%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whiting 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% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4Lowest 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| 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.