Compare towns
Addison vs Ripton vs Plainfield vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Addison has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Addison | Ripton | Plainfield | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,175Highest |
508 |
1,016 |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.1±7.6 37% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±7.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Addison and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ripton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$97,500±$14k 21% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$23k 9% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$329,700±$51k about the U.S. average |
| Ripton and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$461Highest 43% above U.S. |
— | $750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,096±$113 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,831Highest 87% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$5,714 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±62.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waltham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.