What stands out worked out from the figures below

Freedom has the oldest population (median age 60.6).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Freedom	Ripton
People
Population	1,494Highest	508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S.	47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S.
	Freedom and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%	11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Freedom and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	30.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Freedom and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	48%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,136±$14kLowest 18% below U.S.	$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$389,000±$43kLowest 17% above U.S.	$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S.
	Ripton and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,478Lowest 12% above U.S.	$4,915Highest 58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1%	52.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Freedom and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	90.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.
Work from home	18.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Freedom and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Freedom School District	Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.