Compare towns
Benson vs Moriah 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%).
Moriah has the most affordable homes ($138k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Moriah | Ripton | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
4,483Highest |
508Lowest |
551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7% 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. |
56.7±3 46% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
59±2.8Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Dresden and Moriah 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% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Benson and Moriah 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% |
33.4%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Moriah and Ripton 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% |
25.1% 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% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$63,113±$6kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$64,180±$9k 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$138,200±$9kLowest 58% 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. |
$832±$165Lowest 41% 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. |
$2,644Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,138 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±25.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±48.2Lowest 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% |
14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%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. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% 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% |
9.4%±6.3 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #380 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | MORIAH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | MORIAH JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— | — |
| 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.