Compare towns
Putney vs Strafford vs Underhill vs Arlington
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).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Putney | Strafford | Underhill | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,372Lowest |
3,141Highest |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
| Strafford and Underhill 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%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and Arlington 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% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
| Strafford 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±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
| Underhill and Strafford 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 |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
— | $1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
| Arlington and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,697 33% above VT |
$4,549Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington 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 | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Strafford School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.