Compare towns
Bleecker vs Ripton vs Benson vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bleecker has the oldest population (median age 59.7).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Benson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1966).
Ashland has the most kids (16.5% under 18).
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 | Bleecker | Ripton | Benson | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 563 |
508 |
271Lowest |
701Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -13%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.7±2.9Highest 53% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
50.7±7.7 30% above U.S. |
55.2±6.8 42% above U.S. |
| Bleecker and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 8.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±9.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashland and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.3%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
32.2%±8.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bleecker and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,732±$21k 7% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$69,375±$13kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$69,583±$23k 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $221,100±$61kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$230,100±$15k 31% below U.S. |
$247,300±$47k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$286Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— | — | $1,140±$135Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Ashland and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,893 25% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$2,528Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$4,340 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.1%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.3%±41.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Bleecker 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 | 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.