Compare towns
Jay vs Ripton vs Au Sable Forks vs Lewis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Au Sable Forks has the most affordable homes ($131k median).
Lewis has the oldest population (median age 52.3).
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 | Jay | Ripton | Au Sable Forks | Lewis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,354Highest |
508 |
369Lowest |
1,156 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.6 25% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
46.8±15Lowest 20% above U.S. |
52.3±5.2Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Lewis and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±9.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Au Sable Forks and Lewis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.3%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±11.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ripton and Au Sable Forks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,380±$19k 10% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$52,656±$12kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$82,083±$35k about the U.S. average |
| Ripton and Lewis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,900±$22k 41% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$130,800±$84kLowest 61% below U.S. |
$181,000±$26k 46% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,272±$366Highest 10% below U.S. |
— | $792±$553Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$985±$284 30% below U.S. |
| Jay and Lewis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,741 20% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$1,827Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$2,801 10% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.4%±21.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±62.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±46.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lewis and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.6%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Lewis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL 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 | 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.