Compare towns
Jefferson vs Reading vs Ripton vs Carroll
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%).
Carroll has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Jefferson | Reading | Ripton | Carroll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,013Highest |
699 |
508Lowest |
659 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±3.5 49% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
62.4±4.8Highest 60% above U.S. |
| Carroll and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
7%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
39.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Carroll and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,188±$13k 17% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$64,821±$26kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,700±$92k 11% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$261,500±$42kLowest 21% 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 | $867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Highest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,078±$241 24% below U.S. |
| Reading and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,196 35% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$3,356Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
28%±47.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 14 photos → | 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.