Compare towns
Benson vs Ripton vs German vs Esperance
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
German has the most affordable homes ($113k median).
Esperance has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Esperance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 271 |
508Highest |
274 |
248Lowest |
| 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±5.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
48.6±11.9 25% 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% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.7%±11Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| German and Benson 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%±7.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±5.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±6.1Lowest 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. |
$73,333±$6k 9% 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. |
$191,700±$46k 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $817±$260 42% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,528 19% below U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$1,844Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Esperance and Ripton 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% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 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. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Esperance 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 | — | — |
| 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.