Compare towns
Benson vs Ripton vs Wells
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 most affordable homes ($230k median).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 59.8).
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 | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271Lowest |
508 |
671Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7 30% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
59.8±3.5Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Wells 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%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wells 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% |
28.9%±7.6Lowest 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% |
19.6%Lowest 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% |
2.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,375±$13kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$74,286±$31k 8% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,100±$15kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$268,600±$45k 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,528Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$2,588 17% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%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. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
43 minHighest 63% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.6%±2.5Lowest 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 |
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.