Compare towns
Castleton vs Dorset vs Putney vs Underhill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
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 | Castleton | Dorset | Putney | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,092Lowest |
2,622 |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
| Dorset and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dorset and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
| Dorset and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$446,000±$24k 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
— |
| Dorset and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$6,697 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Underhill 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.