Compare towns

Webster vs Reading vs Ripton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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.

MeasureWebsterReadingRipton
People
Population
2,227Highest
699
508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.7±7.6Lowest
15% above U.S.
51.1±7.6Highest
31% above U.S.
47.7±14.2
23% 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
22.6%±8Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Webster and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,171±$14k
33% above U.S.
$85,000±$19kLowest
5% above U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
Ripton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$338,500±$30kLowest
about the U.S. average
$377,200±$72k
13% above U.S.
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% 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
$1,396±$622Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,100±$331Lowest
22% below U.S.
—
Webster and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,021Highest
93% above U.S.
$5,754
84% above U.S.
$4,915Lowest
58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.6%±71
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±31.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Reading and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
16% above U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
17.1%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Merrimack Valley School District Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town None 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.