Compare towns

Putney vs Lancaster vs Underhill

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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.

MeasurePutneyLancasterUnderhill
People
Population
2,622Lowest
3,216Highest
3,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
45.5±6.9Highest
17% above U.S.
38.1±11.4
about the U.S. average
Lancaster and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±6.1
U.S.: 22%
27.8%±10.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Underhill and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
28.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
30.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
$68,911±$23kLowest
15% below U.S.
$92,267±$54kHighest
14% above U.S.
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
10% below U.S.
$215,700±$24kLowest
35% below U.S.
$446,000±$24kHighest
34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,019±$263Highest
28% below U.S.
—
Lancaster and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313
70% above U.S.
$4,226Lowest
35% above U.S.
$6,697Highest
115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
36.1%±17
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±18.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1942Lowest
38 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
23 min
13% below U.S.
33 minHighest
24% above U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #107 of 120 in NH #2 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 White Mountains Regional School District Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.