Compare towns

Putney vs Smithfield vs Underhill vs Arlington

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 the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).

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.

MeasurePutneySmithfieldUnderhillArlington
People
Population
2,622
856Lowest
3,141Highest
2,598
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-10.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%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
37.6±4
3% below U.S.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
10%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.8%±10.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Underhill and Arlington 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%
20.7%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
55.9%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%
3.3%±1.7
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.
$102,308±$11k
27% above U.S.
Smithfield and Arlington 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.
$318,500±$59k
4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,109±$358
22% below U.S.
—
$1,191±$172Highest
16% below U.S.
Arlington and Smithfield 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.
$4,549
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±45.2
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±18.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
77.1%±9.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Arlington and Putney 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%
7.5%
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%
84%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1966Lowest
14 yrs 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.
20 min
23% below U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±11.3
U.S.: 15.1%
35.9%±10.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Arlington and Smithfield 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 #50 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 — Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Arlington School District
High school in town None in town — None in town Arlington Memorial
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
10.6
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.