Compare towns
Putney vs Bristol 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).
Bristol has the oldest population (median age 47.9).
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 | Bristol | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
3,778Highest |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
| Bristol and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Putney 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% |
21.9%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bristol and Putney 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% |
41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
3.5%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% 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±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
$5,978 19% above VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Bristol 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% |
10.1% VT: 10.1% |
6.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Underhill and Bristol 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 | #31 of 70 in VT | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.