Compare towns
Exeter vs Orwell vs Putnam vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Orwell has the most renters (12.7% rent).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Exeter | Orwell | Putnam | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
1,294Highest |
540 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 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+ | 28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above 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 | $243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51Highest 22% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Exeter 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.