Compare towns

Putney vs Jay vs Arlington 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).
Jay has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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.

MeasurePutneyJayArlingtonUnderhill
People
Population
2,622
471Lowest
2,598
3,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%
VT: +2.8%
+6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+3.7%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
52.1±10.5Highest
21% above VT
37.6±4
13% below VT
38.1±11.4
12% below VT
Jay 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%
14.2%±7.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20.6%±3.9
VT: 17.9%
27.8%±10.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
Underhill and Arlington 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%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
20.7%±3.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
17.6%±6
VT: 21.4%
Arlington 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%
VT: 43.8%
45.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
55.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
50.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
3.3%±1.7
VT: 7%
3.5%±2
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18k
about the VT average
$74,792±$25kLowest
8% below VT
$102,308±$11kHighest
26% above VT
$92,267±$54k
14% above VT
Arlington 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
$234,200±$45kLowest
26% below VT
$318,500±$59k
about the VT average
$446,000±$24kHighest
41% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
—
$1,191±$172Highest
3% below VT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313
5% above VT
$3,588Lowest
29% below VT
$4,549
10% below VT
$6,697Highest
33% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4
VT: 48.4%
40%±100
VT: 48.4%
77.1%±9.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±18.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Arlington 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%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
7.5%
VT: 10.1%
6.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84%
VT: 73.2%
79.8%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
1 yr newer than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
1966Lowest
10 yrs older than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
24% below VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
20 min
13% below VT
33 min
39% above VT
Work from home
16.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7
VT: 16.9%
35.9%±10.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
19.4%±11.3
VT: 16.9%
Arlington and Jay 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 — #50 of 70 in VT #2 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District Arlington School District Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
High school in town None in town None in town Arlington Memorial None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.6
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 photos → 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.