Compare towns
Putney vs Springfield vs Calais 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).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
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 | Springfield | Calais | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
9,084Highest |
1,713Lowest |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
43.2±3.7Highest about the VT average |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
| Springfield and Calais 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% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Calais 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% |
23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield and Calais 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% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
| Calais 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
| Underhill and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
— |
| Calais and Springfield 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 |
$4,807Lowest 5% below VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Springfield 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% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
6.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | #64 of 70 in VT | — | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.