Compare towns

Putney vs Sheldon vs Windham 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).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Windham has the oldest population (median age 44.2).
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k median).

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.

MeasurePutneySheldonWindhamUnderhill
People
Population
2,622
2,267
594Lowest
3,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-2.5%
VT: +2.8%
—
+3.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
40.9±3.5
5% below VT
44.2±7.4Highest
about the VT average
38.1±11.4
12% below VT
Windham and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23.7%±3.6
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
27.8%±10.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
Underhill and Sheldon 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%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
17.6%±6
VT: 21.4%
Windham 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%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.1%
VT: 43.8%
50.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
2%±1.3
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.5%±2
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18k
about the VT average
$78,533±$25kLowest
3% below VT
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
$92,267±$54k
14% above VT
Windham 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
$272,400±$61kLowest
14% below VT
$353,900±$20k
12% above VT
$446,000±$24kHighest
41% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
$1,286±$379Highest
4% above VT
— —
Sheldon 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
$3,578Lowest
29% below VT
$5,951
18% above VT
$6,697Highest
33% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
0%±18.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Putney and Windham 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%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
6.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89%Highest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
79.8%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
1 yr newer than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
24% below VT
25 min
7% above VT
27 min
14% above VT
33 minHighest
39% above VT
Work from home
16.9%±6.5
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
19.4%±11.3
VT: 16.9%
Windham and Underhill 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 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 — Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
High school in town None in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.