Compare towns
Benson vs Ripton vs German vs Decatur
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).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
German has the most affordable homes ($113k median).
Decatur has the oldest population (median age 55.3).
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 | Ripton | German | Decatur |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 271Lowest |
508Highest |
274 |
328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7 30% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
53.8±5.8 38% above U.S. |
55.3±7.6Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Decatur and German 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| German and Decatur 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% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.7%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.7%±6.1Lowest 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% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,375±$13k 14% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$67,813±$11kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$69,375±$19k 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,100±$15k 31% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$112,500±$15kLowest 66% below U.S. |
$173,500±$40k 48% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $817±$260Highest 42% below U.S. |
$765±$109Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| German and Decatur 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. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$1,844Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$3,404 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Decatur 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 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 |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
43 minHighest 62% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Benson 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.