Compare towns
Putney vs Randolph vs Waterville 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).
Randolph has the oldest population (median age 40.4).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($185k 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.
| Measure | Putney | Randolph | Waterville | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
4,843 |
17,077Highest |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
40.4±7.4Highest 4% above U.S. |
35.5±2.5Lowest 9% below U.S. |
38.1±11.4 about the U.S. average |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest 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% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph and Waterville 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% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.8%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% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
18.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$76,758±$6k 5% below U.S. |
$53,580±$4kLowest 34% 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. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$184,600±$21kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$446,000±$24kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173Highest 17% below U.S. |
$978±$72 31% below U.S. |
— |
| Randolph and Waterville 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. |
$4,698 51% above U.S. |
$2,755Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$6,697Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.5%±8.7 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5.6 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | #105 of 133 in ME | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Waterville Public Schools | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | Waterville Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.