Compare towns
Putney vs Stowe vs Williston 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 most affordable homes ($300k median).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Williston has the highest household income ($107k).
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 | Stowe | Williston | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
5,285 |
10,144Highest |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
| Stowe and Williston 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% |
22.5%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Stowe 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% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
| Williston and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$446,000±$24k 41% above VT |
| Stowe and Williston 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 |
$1,458±$242 18% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,697 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Williston 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
79.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Stowe Town School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— | — |
| 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.