Compare towns

Putney vs Middlesex vs Jay 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).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).

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.

MeasurePutneyMiddlesexJayUnderhill
People
Population
2,622
1,943
471Lowest
3,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+2.8%
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+3.7%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
44.4±3.9
3% above VT
52.1±10.5Highest
21% above VT
38.1±11.4
12% below VT
Jay and Middlesex 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%
21.3%±3.1
VT: 17.9%
14.2%±7.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
27.8%±10.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
Underhill and Middlesex 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%
20.6%±3.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
17.6%±6
VT: 21.4%
Middlesex 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%
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
45.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
50.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
5.2%±2.6
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
3.5%±2
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18k
about the VT average
$109,632±$13kHighest
35% above VT
$74,792±$25kLowest
8% below VT
$92,267±$54k
14% above VT
Middlesex 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
$376,300±$40k
19% above VT
$234,200±$45kLowest
26% below VT
$446,000±$24kHighest
41% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
$1,333±$359Highest
8% above VT
— —
Middlesex and Putney 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
$6,483
29% above VT
$3,588Lowest
29% below VT
$6,697Highest
33% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
40%±100
VT: 48.4%
0%±18.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Putney and Jay 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%
3.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
6.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
96.7%
VT: 73.2%
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
79.8%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
1 yr newer than VT
1986
10 yrs newer than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
24% below VT
27 min
17% above VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
33 min
39% above VT
Work from home
16.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
28.4%±10.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7
VT: 16.9%
19.4%±11.3
VT: 16.9%
Middlesex 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 — — #2 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary 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 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.