Compare towns
Putney vs Castleton vs Durham vs Underhill
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).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Castleton | Durham | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
4,453 |
15,080Highest |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3Highest about the U.S. average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
38.1±11.4 about the U.S. average |
| Castleton 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Underhill and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$92,267±$54k 14% above U.S. |
| Durham and Underhill 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. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$446,000±$24k 34% above U.S. |
| Durham and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Durham and Castleton 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. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,697 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Durham 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% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±11.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #9 of 120 in NH | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Oyster River Coop School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.