Compare towns
Putney vs Acton vs Underhill vs Cabot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Cabot has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Putney | Acton | Underhill | Cabot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
2,721 |
3,141Highest |
1,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
38.1±11.4 about the U.S. average |
40.3±6.6 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Underhill and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$78,750±$15k about the U.S. average |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$77,031±$16kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Underhill and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
$446,000±$24kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$268,500±$77kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
— | — | $1,243±$354Highest 12% below U.S. |
| Cabot and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$6,697Highest 115% above U.S. |
$4,639 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±26.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±11.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cabot 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 | #43 of 133 in ME | #2 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Acton Public Schools | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.