Compare towns
Putney vs Fairfield vs Wells 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).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
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 | Fairfield | Wells | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,938 |
1,148Lowest |
3,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Fairfield 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% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above VT |
| Underhill and Fairfield 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 |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
— |
| Wells and Fairfield 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 |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 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 | — | — | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | 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.