Compare towns
Benson vs Lincoln vs Ripton vs German
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1966).
Lincoln has the most people working from home (18.8%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
German has the most affordable homes ($113k median).
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 | Benson | Lincoln | Ripton | German |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 271Lowest |
1,394Highest |
508 |
274 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7 30% above U.S. |
45.7±3.6Lowest 17% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
53.8±5.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
| German and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±9.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| German and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.7%±7.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,375±$13k 14% below U.S. |
$96,667±$18k 20% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$67,813±$11kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,100±$15k 31% below U.S. |
$365,200±$30k 10% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$112,500±$15kLowest 66% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $870±$47Highest 38% below U.S. |
— | $817±$260Lowest 42% below U.S. |
| Lincoln and German are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,528 19% below U.S. |
$6,100Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$1,844Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
43 minHighest 62% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lincoln and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Lincoln Town School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| 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.