Compare towns

Putnam vs Ripton vs Dresden

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 most kids (17.4% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($192k 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.

MeasurePutnamRiptonDresden
People
Population
540
508Lowest
551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-17.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±6.4
38% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Lowest
23% above U.S.
59±2.8Highest
52% above U.S.
Dresden and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.4%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
13.1%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
Putnam and Dresden 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%
27.9%±4Lowest
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%
22.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$92,344±$14k
14% above U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$64,180±$9kLowest
21% below 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
$266,200±$48k
20% below U.S.
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
$191,500±$48kLowest
42% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly — —
$1,066±$109
25% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,674
18% above U.S.
$4,915Highest
58% above U.S.
$3,138Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.4%±48.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Dresden 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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1973Highest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
8.6%±5.7
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ripton and Putnam 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 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.