Compare towns
Dalton vs Ripton vs Mendon vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Grafton has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
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 | Dalton | Ripton | Mendon | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 916 |
508Lowest |
1,113 |
1,354Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±12.9 14% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
43.1±10.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±11.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Grafton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,429±$36kLowest about the U.S. average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$81,563±$22k about the U.S. average |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,400±$68kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$267,300±$23k 20% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$825Lowest 36% below U.S. |
— | $1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,243±$163Highest 12% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,561Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
$5,239 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±83.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±34.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
43 minHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Grafton 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 | 6 photos → |
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.