Compare towns
Benson vs Hancock vs Ripton vs Dresden
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 people working from home (18.6%).
Hancock has the youngest population (median age 33.8).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Dresden has the oldest population (median age 59).
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 | Hancock | Ripton | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Highest |
435Lowest |
508 |
551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-17.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
33.8±11.6Lowest 13% below U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
59±2.8Highest 52% 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Hancock and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±4 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$76,250±$34k 6% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$64,180±$9kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$187,900±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$191,500±$48k 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$939±$19Lowest 34% below U.S. |
— | $1,066±$109 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. |
$3,511 13% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,138Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±48.2 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
1%±2.1Lowest 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 | 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.