Compare towns
Exeter vs Ossian vs Ripton vs Jefferson
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).
Ossian has the most affordable homes ($173k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Ossian | Ripton | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
689 |
508Lowest |
1,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
52.3±13.9 34% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Jefferson and Ossian 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% |
18.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Ossian 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%±8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$71,738±$6k 11% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$172,700±$43kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$186,900±$42k 44% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$867±$302 39% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$4,366 40% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,602 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson and Ripton 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% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson 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.