Compare towns
Jefferson vs Reading vs Ripton vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($187k median).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 54.3).
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 | Jefferson | Reading | Ripton | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,226 |
699 |
508Lowest |
1,467Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.9±5.2 39% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
54.3±4.6Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$85,938±$16k 6% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $186,900±$42kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$230,600±$24k 31% 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±$331Highest 22% below U.S. |
— | $794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Reading and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,602Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$3,630 16% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±53.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% 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. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Reading 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 | 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.