Compare towns
Orwell vs Underhill vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Underhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 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 | Orwell | Underhill | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
3,141Highest |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
38.1±11.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Underhill and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orwell and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$92,267±$54k 14% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
$446,000±$24kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 25% above U.S. |
$6,697Highest 115% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±11.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Underhill and Orwell 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 | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.