Compare towns

Unity vs Ripton vs Alexandria

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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Alexandria has the most kids (14.3% under 18).

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.

MeasureUnityRiptonAlexandria
People
Population
1,375
508Lowest
1,983Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-9.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
58±4.5Highest
49% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Lowest
23% above U.S.
52.6±5
35% above U.S.
Unity and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.3%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Alexandria and Unity 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%
30.5%±7.1
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Unity and Ripton 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%
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
25.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±0.7Lowest
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±$16kLowest
8% above U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$89,194±$8k
10% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$276,100±$29kLowest
17% below U.S.
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
$323,300±$27k
about the U.S. average
Ripton and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,625±$804Highest
15% above U.S.
—
$1,135±$273Lowest
20% below U.S.
Unity and Alexandria 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.
$4,915Lowest
58% above U.S.
$5,021
61% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
55.6%±40.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Alexandria and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 min
32% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
37 minHighest
38% above U.S.
Work from home
9.5%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Alexandria and Ripton 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

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.