Compare towns
Putney vs Brighton 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).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
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 | Putney | Brighton | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,167Lowest |
3,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
| Brighton and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Brighton 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% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.5%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% 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 |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$775±$33Highest 37% below VT |
— |
| Brighton and Putney 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 |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16% VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Highest 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Brighton School District | 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 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.