Compare towns
Exeter vs Jefferson vs Mendon vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($187k median).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Exeter | Jefferson | Mendon | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
1,226Highest |
1,113 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Jefferson and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$186,900±$42kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above 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 | $867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
— | $1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
— |
| Mendon and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,602 15% above U.S. |
$5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Mendon 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.