Compare towns
Heath vs Leyden vs Ripton vs Petersham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Leyden has the most kids (13.8% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
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 | Heath | Leyden | Ripton | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 765 |
637 |
508Lowest |
1,185Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9 38% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2 37% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Leyden and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$105,893±$13k 31% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$110,750±$20k 37% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$372,900±$24k 12% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$392,400±$20k 18% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
— | $1,679±$441Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,651 49% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,636 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 32% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Petersham |
| 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.