Compare towns

Ripton vs Benson vs Middletown Springs

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($230k median).
Middletown Springs has the most kids (24% 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.

MeasureRiptonBensonMiddletown Springs
People
Population
508
271Lowest
747Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+6.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.7±14.2Lowest
23% above U.S.
50.7±7.7Highest
30% above U.S.
49.2±5.1
26% above U.S.
Benson and Middletown Springs 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%
14.4%±9.3
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Middletown Springs and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.5%±7.1
U.S.: 17.2%
34.3%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Benson and Ripton 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%
21.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.1%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$69,375±$13kLowest
14% below U.S.
$82,000±$12k
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
$230,100±$15kLowest
31% below U.S.
$262,200±$24k
21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly — —
$1,208±$438
15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,915Highest
58% above U.S.
$2,528Lowest
19% below U.S.
$4,595
47% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
20%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1966Lowest
14 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
27 minHighest
3% above U.S.
Work from home
17.2%±8.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
Ripton and Middletown Springs 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 — Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69
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.