Compare towns
Putnam vs Whiting 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 most homeowners (95.9%).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
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 | Whiting | Ripton | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 540 |
532 |
508Lowest |
784Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% 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. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.7±14.2 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% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 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% |
25.9%Lowest 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% |
6.2%±4 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. |
$91,250±$38k 13% 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. |
$280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,204±$519Highest 15% below U.S. |
— | $1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Benson 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. |
$4,227 36% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whiting 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 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. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | 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.