Compare towns
Brookfield vs Ripton vs St. George vs Columbus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the youngest population (median age 41.2).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
St. George has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Columbus has the most affordable homes ($125k 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 | Brookfield | Ripton | St. George | Columbus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,150Highest |
508Lowest |
812 |
849 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±6.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
44.7±13.4 15% above U.S. |
43.6±11.8 12% above U.S. |
| Ripton and St. George are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±9 U.S.: 22% |
| St. George and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,205±$9k 14% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$109,464±$34k 36% above U.S. |
$58,889±$11kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Ripton and St. George are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $152,800±$28k 54% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$376,800±$50k 13% above U.S. |
$124,700±$36kLowest 63% below U.S. |
| Ripton and St. George are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $981±$75Lowest 31% below U.S. |
— | $1,394±$132 about the U.S. average |
$1,500±$635Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Columbus and St. George are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,197 about the U.S. average |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,514Highest 77% above U.S. |
$3,071Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±35.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
96%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±92.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| St. George and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±16.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| St. George and Columbus 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.