Compare towns
Burns vs Ripton vs Columbus vs Macomb
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burns has the most affordable homes ($101k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Columbus has the most people working from home (22.2%).
Macomb has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
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 | Burns | Ripton | Columbus | Macomb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 888Highest |
508Lowest |
849 |
752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±7.1 13% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
43.6±11.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45.3±10.9 16% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Macomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Columbus and Burns are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Burns are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,491±$6k 20% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$58,889±$11kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$70,417±$20k 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $100,800±$18kLowest 70% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$124,700±$36k 63% below U.S. |
$126,500±$21k 62% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$139 33% below U.S. |
— | $1,500±$635Highest 6% above U.S. |
$843±$278Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Columbus and Burns are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,783 11% below U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,071 about the U.S. average |
$2,532Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±48.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±92.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
92.3%±51.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Macomb and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±16.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.6%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Columbus and Ripton 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.