Compare towns
Putnam vs Reading vs Ripton vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Putnam | Reading | Ripton | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 540 |
699 |
508Lowest |
784Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Ripton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Benson and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.