Compare towns
Putney vs Chester vs Underhill vs Randolph
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).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Underhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Chester | Underhill | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
2,992 |
3,141 |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
| Chester and Randolph 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Randolph 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Randolph 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% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
3.5%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below 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 |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
— | $1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
| Randolph and Chester 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 |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Randolph 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% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
6.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | #2 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
— | 9.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.