Compare towns
Benson vs Putnam vs Ripton vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Chelsea has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Benson | Putnam | Ripton | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
540 |
508Lowest |
1,223Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
54.1±12.1Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Chelsea and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chelsea and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$65,913±$13kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$260,900±$39k 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
— | — | $1,524±$467Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,762 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.3%±33.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None 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.