What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison has the most kids (23.1% under 18).

Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Madison	Ripton
People
Population	2,680Highest	508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S.	47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S.
	Madison and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22%	11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Madison and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ripton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	48%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,697±$11kLowest 27% above U.S.	$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S.
	Ripton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$388,700±$36kLowest 17% above U.S.	$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S.
	Ripton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,556±$256 10% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,074Lowest 31% above U.S.	$4,915Highest 58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1%	52.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Madison and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	90.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	24 minHighest 9% below U.S.
Work from home	8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ripton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Madison 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

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.