Compare towns
Putney vs Mount Desert vs Randolph 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 youngest population (median age 37.2).
Mount Desert has the oldest population (median age 54.9).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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.
| Measure | Putney | Mount Desert | Randolph | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,671Lowest |
4,843Highest |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
54.9±8.2Highest 41% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
38.1±11.4 about the U.S. average |
| Mount Desert and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mount Desert and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
64.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±4.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$92,813±$9kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$92,267±$54k 14% above U.S. |
| Mount Desert 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 10% below U.S. |
$522,100±$66kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$446,000±$24k 34% above U.S. |
| Mount Desert and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,341±$89Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173 17% below U.S. |
— |
| Mount Desert and Randolph 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. |
$3,512Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
$6,697Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±31.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±11.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Underhill and Mount Desert 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mount Desert Public Schools | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.