python range vs xrange vs counter

$ python /tmp/test.py
range(5):   0.00632405281067
xrange(5):  0.00562596321106
count(5):   0.00800800323486

range(1000):   0.521214008331
xrange(1000):  0.447746038437
count(1000):   1.23153495789



$ cat /tmp/test.py
import timeit

def loop_5_range():
  unused = 0
  for _ in range(5):
     unused += 1
  return unused

def loop_5_xrange():
  unused = 0
  for _ in xrange(5):
     unused += 1
  return unused

def loop_5_counter():
  unused = 0
  count = 5
  while count:
     unused += 1
     count -= 1
  return unused

def loop_1000_range():
  unused = 0
  for _ in range(1000):
     unused += 1
  return unused

def loop_1000_xrange():
  unused = 0
  for _ in xrange(1000):
     unused += 1
  return unused

def loop_1000_counter():
  unused = 0
  count = 1000
  while count:
     unused += 1
     count -= 1
  return unused

print 'range(5):  ',
print timeit.timeit(loop_5_range, number=10000)

print 'xrange(5): ',
print timeit.timeit(loop_5_xrange, number=10000)

print 'count(5):  ',
print timeit.timeit(loop_5_counter, number=10000)

print

print 'range(1000):  ',
print timeit.timeit(loop_1000_range, number=10000)

print 'xrange(1000): ',
print timeit.timeit(loop_1000_xrange, number=10000)

print 'count(1000):  ',
print timeit.timeit(loop_1000_counter, number=10000)