Compare towns
Benson vs Putnam vs Ripton vs Stratton
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 affordable homes ($242k median).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Stratton has the most kids (28% 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 | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Highest |
540 |
508Lowest |
532 |
| 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% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Benson 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% |
28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.7%±4Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Stratton and Ripton 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±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
— | — | $1,208±$979Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Stratton 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. |
$4,750 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±69.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest 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 | — |
| 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 | 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.