What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.

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

Measure	Ripton	Alstead
People
Population	508Lowest	1,551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S.	56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S.
	Alstead and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	12.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Alstead and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	27.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ripton and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S.	$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S.	$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S.	$5,322Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Alstead and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973 7 yrs older than U.S.	1973 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ripton and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Addison Central Unified Union School District #55	Fall Mountain Regional School District
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.