Compare towns
Erwin vs Reading vs Ripton vs Ballston Spa
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Erwin has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Ballston Spa has the most kids (21.5% 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 | Erwin | Reading | Ripton | Ballston Spa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,965Highest |
699 |
508Lowest |
5,027 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2 13% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
42.7±3.3Lowest 10% 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 | 20.7%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ballston Spa and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±2.8Lowest 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+ | 49.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,333±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$101,667±$15k 26% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Ballston Spa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $223,700±$26kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$308,200±$29k 7% below 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 | $1,271±$136Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,122±$238 21% below U.S. |
| Erwin and Ballston Spa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,829Highest 87% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$5,335 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 43% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Ballston Spa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #431 of 484 in NY | — | — | — |
| School district | CORNING CITY 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 | 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.