Compare towns
Putney vs Royalton vs Castleton 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).
Royalton has the oldest population (median age 43.9).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k 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 | Royalton | Castleton | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
2,752 |
4,453Highest |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
43.9±10.1Highest about the VT average |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
| Royalton and Castleton 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% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Castleton 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% |
22.1%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Royalton and Castleton 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% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.5%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton 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 VT average |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
| Royalton 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 |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
— |
| Castleton and Royalton 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 |
$4,675 7% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Putney 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% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
79.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Underhill and Royalton 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 | #48 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | White River Unified School District #79 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | White River Valley High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.