Compare towns
Benton vs Ripton vs Seneca
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benton has the most kids (30.1% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Seneca has the most affordable homes ($193k median).
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 | Benton | Ripton | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,948Highest |
508Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±8.4Lowest 4% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
44.5±6.2 14% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 30.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,767±$13kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$90,658±$21k 12% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,600±$51k 22% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$192,700±$9kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$628Lowest 9% above U.S. |
— | $1,549±$420Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Seneca and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,391 9% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$2,810Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.5%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
7.2%±24.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Benton 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.