Compare towns

Putney vs Castleton vs Hanover 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).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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.

MeasurePutneyCastletonHanoverUnderhill
People
Population
2,622Lowest
4,453
8,479Highest
3,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.1%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
21.8±0.3Lowest
44% 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%
9.8%±2.2Lowest
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%
17.6%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±6Lowest
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%
89.2%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%
49.8%±2.5Highest
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.
$153,281±$26kHighest
90% above U.S.
$92,267±$54k
14% above U.S.
Hanover 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.
$842,600±$97kHighest
153% above U.S.
$446,000±$24k
34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$2,254±$249Highest
60% above U.S.
—
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%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
72%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±18.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanover and Castleton 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%
8%
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%
62.4%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.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
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
28% 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%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±11.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Hanover 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 #39 of 70 in VT #1 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 — 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 None yet 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.