Compare towns
Fairfield vs Underhill vs Putney
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%).
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Underhill | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938Lowest |
3,141Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Highest about the VT average |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Fairfield and Underhill 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% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest 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% |
17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Putney and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
| 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 |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Highest 14% below VT |
— | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Fairfield and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816Lowest 4% below VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Fairfield 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% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 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 | — | #2 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.