Compare towns
Putney vs Middlebury 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
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Underhill | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
9,175Highest |
3,141 |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
40.4±7.4Highest 6% below VT |
| Randolph 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% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest 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% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Middlebury 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% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest 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 |
$86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above VT |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
| Underhill and Middlebury 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 |
$409,700±$30k 29% above VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
| Underhill and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,156±$113 6% below VT |
— | $1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
| Randolph and Middlebury 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 |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$6,697 33% above VT |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4 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% |
10.7% VT: 10.1% |
6.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 24% below VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Underhill and Middlebury 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 | #17 of 70 in VT | #2 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
— | 9.4Lowest |
| 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.