Compare towns
Hill vs Reading vs Ripton vs Lempster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Lempster has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Hill | Reading | Ripton | Lempster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 908 |
699 |
508Lowest |
953Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±6.8 26% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
50.8±7.2 31% above U.S. |
| Reading and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,125±$21kLowest about the U.S. average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$86,607±$12k 7% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,700±$41k 6% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$241,900±$29kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,933 58% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,558Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lempster and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Hill School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Lempster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None 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.