Compare towns
Unity vs Brookline vs Ripton vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Unity | Brookline | Ripton | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,375Highest |
531 |
508Lowest |
1,013 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$296,700±$92k 11% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804 15% above U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
— | $867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,196Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Unity School District | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 14 photos → |
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.