Compare towns

Reading vs Ripton vs Putnam

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($266k 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.

MeasureReadingRiptonPutnam
People
Population
699Highest
508Lowest
540
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.1±7.6
31% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Lowest
23% above U.S.
53.6±6.4Highest
38% above U.S.
Putnam and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.5%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
Reading and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.2%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1
U.S.: 17.2%
35.6%±3.4Highest
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+
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,000±$19kLowest
5% above U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$92,344±$14k
14% above 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
$377,200±$72k
13% above U.S.
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
$266,200±$48kLowest
20% below U.S.
Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,100±$331
22% below U.S.
— —
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,754Highest
84% above U.S.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
$3,674Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±31.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1973Highest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
Work from home
22.9%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
8.6%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
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

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.