Compare towns
Putnam vs Ripton vs Plainfield 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%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
Dresden has the oldest population (median age 59).
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 | Plainfield | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 540 |
508Lowest |
1,016Highest |
551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-17.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below 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% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Plainfield 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% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±4 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% |
28.2% 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% |
14.9%±11.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ripton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below 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. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$191,500±$48k 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,066±$109Highest 25% below U.S. |
| Dresden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674 18% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,138 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% |
40.6%±43.5 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% |
7.8% 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% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 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. |
29 min 11% above 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% |
11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Plainfield 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 | 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.