Compare towns
Orwell vs Ripton vs Walden vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Orwell | Ripton | Walden | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
508Lowest |
1,037 |
540 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest 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+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% 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 | $335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$238,900±$23kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below 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 | $1,105±$51Highest 22% below U.S. |
— | $900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 25% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,944 26% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None 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.