Compare towns
Nelson vs Putney vs Underhill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Nelson | Putney | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
2,622 |
3,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Highest 9% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
38.1±11.4 about the U.S. average |
| Nelson and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Underhill and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$92,267±$54k 14% above U.S. |
| Nelson and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$446,000±$24kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
— |
| Nelson and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$6,697Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±11.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Nelson School District | 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 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.