Compare towns
Ripton vs Mendon vs Plainfield 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%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k 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.
| Measure | Ripton | Mendon | Plainfield | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,113 |
1,016 |
1,394Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below 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% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest 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% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ripton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below 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. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below 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 | — | $1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$870±$47 38% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$6,100Highest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5Lowest 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest 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.



