Compare towns
Putney vs Olean vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Putney | Olean | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
1,664 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
| Olean and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$74,583±$20kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$666±$334Highest 53% below U.S. |
— |
| Olean and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,027Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 70 in VT | #337 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.