Compare towns
Unity vs Ripton vs Charlestown vs Lempster
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 oldest population (median age 58).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Charlestown has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Lempster has the most homeowners (98.2%).
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 | Ripton | Charlestown | Lempster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,375 |
508Lowest |
4,889Highest |
953 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
41.6±8.5Lowest 7% above U.S. |
50.8±7.2 31% above U.S. |
| Unity and Lempster 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% |
22.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Charlestown and Lempster 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% |
22.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±3.5 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$47,338±$23kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$86,607±$12k 7% above 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±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$228,000±$62kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$241,900±$29k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
— | $1,099±$85Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Unity and Charlestown 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. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,143 65% above U.S. |
$4,558Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lempster and Charlestown 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% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 32% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Unity 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 | — | — | #113 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Unity School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Lempster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 4 photos → | 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.