Compare towns
Erwin vs Ripton vs Ballston Spa vs Lindley
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Ballston Spa has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Lindley has the most affordable homes ($157k median).
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 | Ripton | Ballston Spa | Lindley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,965Highest |
508Lowest |
5,027 |
1,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2 13% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
42.7±3.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
46.3±4.4 19% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Lindley 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lindley and Ballston Spa 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±0.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,333±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$101,667±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$86,518±$9kLowest 7% 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±$26k 33% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$308,200±$29k 7% below U.S. |
$156,500±$15kLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Ballston Spa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$136 10% below U.S. |
— | $1,122±$238Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,571±$965Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Lindley and Erwin 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. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,335 71% above U.S. |
$3,885Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Erwin and Ripton 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 43% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±9.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ballston Spa and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | — |
| High school 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.