Compare towns

Ripton vs Durham 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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Lincoln has the most kids (15.1% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureRiptonDurhamLincoln
People
Population
508Lowest
15,080Highest
1,394
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
20.8±0.3Lowest
47% below U.S.
45.7±3.6
17% above U.S.
Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.8%±6.3
U.S.: 22%
10.3%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Lincoln 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%
11.5%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.3%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Lincoln 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%
75.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3
U.S.: 6.4%
55.1%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15k
40% above U.S.
$124,056±$21kHighest
54% above U.S.
$96,667±$18kLowest
20% above U.S.
Durham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
$504,300±$41kHighest
52% above U.S.
$365,200±$30kLowest
10% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,429±$143Highest
about the U.S. average
$870±$47Lowest
38% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,915Lowest
58% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,100
96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
66.4%±16Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.1%±25.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Durham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
15.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
9% below U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
Work from home
17.2%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.8%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Durham and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #9 of 120 in NH —
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Oyster River Coop School District Lincoln Town School District
High school in town None in town Oyster River High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.3
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 51 photos → 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.