Compare towns

Johnstown vs Ripton vs Newark vs Herkimer

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Johnstown has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Newark has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Herkimer has the most renters (40.4% 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.

MeasureJohnstownRiptonNewarkHerkimer
People
Population
8,111
508Lowest
8,991
9,534Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44±4.8
13% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
41.1±3Lowest
6% above U.S.
45.6±3.4
17% above U.S.
Ripton and Herkimer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.3%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.2%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
Newark and Johnstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.5%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.5%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Johnstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
17.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.1%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$63,763±$9k
21% below U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$60,006±$9k
26% below U.S.
$56,287±$14kLowest
30% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$157,800±$11k
53% below U.S.
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
$132,600±$12kLowest
60% below U.S.
$136,300±$22k
59% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$914±$43
35% below U.S.
—
$979±$97Highest
31% below U.S.
$820±$74Lowest
42% below U.S.
Newark and Johnstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,613
16% above U.S.
$4,915Highest
58% above U.S.
$4,106
32% above U.S.
$3,453Lowest
11% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.2%±12Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.8%±11.9
U.S.: 51.1%
45.9%±15.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
22.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
21.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
60.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
60.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1941Lowest
39 yrs older than U.S.
1973Highest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1956
24 yrs older than U.S.
1944
36 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
24 minHighest
9% below U.S.
21 min
19% below U.S.
22 min
18% below U.S.
Work from home
7.6%±3.2
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Ripton and Herkimer 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 #403 of 484 in NY — — #363 of 484 in NY
School district JOHNSTOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 — HERKIMER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town JOHNSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL None in town — HERKIMER HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school
11.8Highest
— —
11.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet 12 photos →

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.