Compare towns
Unity vs Ripton vs Townshend
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%).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,375 |
508Lowest |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6 43% above U.S. |
| Unity and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$78,750±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Townshend 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. |
— | $1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Unity and Townshend 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. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
| 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.


