Compare towns
Fairfield vs Putney vs Underhill vs Proctor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Fairfield | Putney | Underhill | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
2,622 |
3,141Highest |
1,794Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
42.4±6.4Highest about the VT average |
| Proctor and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above VT |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
| Underhill and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Highest 14% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
— | $1,029±$202 17% below VT |
| Fairfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816 4% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$4,032Lowest 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Underhill 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 | #2 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.