Compare towns

Lunenburg vs Ripton vs Dalton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lunenburg has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).

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.

MeasureLunenburgRiptonDalton
People
Population
1,267Highest
508Lowest
916
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.2±4.2Highest
32% above U.S.
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
44.5±12.9Lowest
14% above U.S.
Lunenburg and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.1%±3
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Dalton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.1%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.8%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
14.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±4.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$53,125±$9kLowest
34% below U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$81,429±$36k
about the U.S. average
Ripton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$164,000±$11kLowest
51% below U.S.
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
$191,400±$68k
42% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,025±$172Highest
27% below U.S.
—
$900±$825Lowest
36% below U.S.
Lunenburg and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,702Lowest
13% below U.S.
$4,915Highest
58% above U.S.
$3,561
14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.5%±57.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
57.7%±83.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dalton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
19.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
Work from home
4.9%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.9%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Ripton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 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

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.