Compare towns
Benson vs Dresden vs Ripton
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 kids (16.5% under 18).
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Dresden | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784Highest |
551 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-17.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
59±2.8Highest 52% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Dresden and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Benson and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$64,180±$9kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$191,500±$48kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$1,066±$109Lowest 25% below U.S. |
— |
| Benson and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,138Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±48.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | 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 |
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.