Compare towns

Putney vs Smithfield 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).
Smithfield has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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.

MeasurePutneySmithfieldUnderhill
People
Population
2,622
856Lowest
3,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-10.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
55.8±3.5Highest
43% above U.S.
38.1±11.4
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
10%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.8%±10.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Underhill and Putney 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%
29.7%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.7%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%
3%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$107,917±$27kHighest
34% above U.S.
$92,267±$54k
14% above U.S.
Smithfield 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.
$242,800±$15kLowest
27% below U.S.
$446,000±$24kHighest
34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,109±$358Highest
22% below U.S.
—
Smithfield and Putney 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.
$2,866Lowest
8% below U.S.
$6,697Highest
115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±45.2
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±18.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney and Smithfield 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%
5.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
33 min
23% above U.S.
33 minHighest
24% above U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±11.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Smithfield 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 — Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 photos → 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.