Compare towns

Putney vs Athens vs Windsor vs Underhill

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Athens has the oldest population (median age 47.3).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k 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.

MeasurePutneyAthensWindsorUnderhill
People
Population
2,622
431Lowest
3,554Highest
3,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
+0.2%
VT: +2.8%
+3.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
47.3±6.5Highest
10% above VT
44.8±6.5
4% above VT
38.1±11.4
12% below VT
Athens and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1
VT: 17.9%
13.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19.5%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
27.8%±10.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
Underhill and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
29.7%±6.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
17.6%±6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Windsor and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.6%
VT: 43.8%
30.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
39.7%
VT: 43.8%
50.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
4.9%±3
VT: 7%
0.7%±0.8Lowest
VT: 7%
3.5%±2
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18k
about the VT average
$68,438±$30k
16% below VT
$52,484±$11kLowest
35% below VT
$92,267±$54kHighest
14% above VT
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
5% below VT
$240,400±$32k
24% below VT
$207,500±$31kLowest
34% below VT
$446,000±$24kHighest
41% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
$1,125±$537Highest
9% below VT
$1,026±$89
17% below VT
—
Athens and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313
5% above VT
$5,438
8% above VT
$5,209Lowest
3% above VT
$6,697Highest
33% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
43.5%±39
VT: 48.4%
31.5%±17
VT: 48.4%
0%±18.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Putney and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16%Highest
VT: 10.1%
12.1%
VT: 10.1%
7.8%
VT: 10.1%
6.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%
VT: 73.2%
73.7%
VT: 73.2%
57.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
79.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1945Lowest
31 yrs older than VT
1979Highest
3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
24% below VT
36 minHighest
53% above VT
23 min
3% below VT
33 min
39% above VT
Work from home
16.9%±6.5
VT: 16.9%
19.3%±7.5
VT: 16.9%
10.3%±5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
19.4%±11.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
Underhill and Athens 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 — #61 of 70 in VT #2 of 70 in VT
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
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.