What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ripley has the most affordable homes ($144k median).

Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).

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	Ripley	Union
People
Population	436Lowest	2,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+5.5% ME: +2.6%
Median age	47.7±5.3Highest 6% above ME	41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME
	Ripley and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.3%±6.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Union and Ripley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.7%±4.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Union and Ripley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	34.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±6Highest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Ripley and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,821±$13kLowest 13% below ME	$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME
	Union and Ripley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$144,300±$33kLowest 51% below ME	$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,091±$281Lowest 4% below ME	$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME
	Union and Ripley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,270Lowest 58% below ME	$3,276Highest 8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	11.5%±73.7Lowest ME: 48.4%	24.6%±19.8Highest ME: 48.4%
	Union and Ripley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME	1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 28% above ME	29 minLowest 20% above ME
Work from home	6.5%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Union and Ripley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	RSU 40/MSAD 40
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.