Compare towns
Putney vs Castleton vs Northfield 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).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Castleton | Northfield | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
4,453 |
5,920Highest |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
38.3±4.3Highest 11% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Northfield 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% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.5%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
— |
| Castleton and Northfield 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Northfield 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
79.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.