Compare towns
Putnam vs Ripton vs Arkwright vs Orwell
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Arkwright has the most affordable homes ($171k median).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Arkwright | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 540 |
508Lowest |
859 |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
50.8±7.2 31% above U.S. |
47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Arkwright 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest 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+ | 35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$93,000±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Arkwright 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. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$170,900±$30kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Ripton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $875±$689Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Orwell and Arkwright 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. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,760 21% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±65.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Orwell 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.