Compare towns
Putney vs Dummerston vs Fairlee 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).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
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 | Dummerston | Fairlee | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
2,090 |
1,066Lowest |
3,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
| Fairlee and Dummerston 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% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
| Dummerston 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 5% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
— |
| Dummerston and Fairlee 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 |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Putney 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston 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 | — | — | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.