Compare towns
Benson vs Putney vs Sutton vs Underhill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Sutton has the most homeowners (85%).
Underhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Benson | Putney | Sutton | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
2,622 |
790 |
3,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
| Benson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above VT |
| Underhill and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
— | — |
| Benson and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 18% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Underhill and Benson 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 | — | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| 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 |
VT 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.