Compare towns
Ripton vs Clarkson vs Mendon vs Lincoln
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Clarkson has the most affordable homes ($207k median).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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.
| Measure | Ripton | Clarkson | Mendon | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
6,810Highest |
1,113 |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
42.7±3.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
45.7±3.6 17% above U.S. |
| Mendon 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% |
18.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Clarkson and Lincoln 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% |
20.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48% U.S.: 35.7% |
28%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$83,286±$15kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$96,667±$18k 20% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$207,000±$24kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$365,200±$30k 10% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,084±$99 23% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
$870±$47Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Clarkson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$5,146 65% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$6,100Highest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Ripton 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% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Lincoln 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 | — | — | Lincoln Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.