Compare towns
Ripton vs Reading vs Lancaster 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%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Reading | Lancaster | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
699 |
3,216Highest |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
45.7±3.6 17% above U.S. |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Lancaster 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% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%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%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$96,667±$18k 20% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Lincoln 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. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$365,200±$30k 10% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,100±$331Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$870±$47Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Reading and Lancaster 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. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,100Highest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | — | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | White Mountains Regional School District | Lincoln Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.