Compare towns

Exeter vs Putnam vs Ripton vs Whiting

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).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).

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.

MeasureExeterPutnamRiptonWhiting
People
Population
913Highest
540
508Lowest
532
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-14.4%Lowest
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.
53.6±6.4Highest
38% above U.S.
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
39.6±2.7Lowest
about the U.S. average
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%±7.1
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Whiting and Exeter 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%
35.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±5.1Lowest
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%
31.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
25.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±4
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,550±$19kLowest
4% below U.S.
$92,344±$14k
14% above U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$91,250±$38k
13% 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.
$266,200±$48k
20% below U.S.
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
$280,400±$36k
16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$867±$44Lowest
39% below U.S.
— —
$1,204±$519Highest
15% below U.S.
Whiting and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,926Lowest
6% below U.S.
$3,674
18% above U.S.
$4,915Highest
58% above U.S.
$4,227
36% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
58.3%±37.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Whiting 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%
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
65.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
Work from home
14.4%±10.4
U.S.: 15.1%
8.6%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±5.4
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 — PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53
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.