Compare towns
Putney vs Sturbridge 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).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Sturbridge | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
9,960Highest |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
38.1±11.4 about the U.S. average |
| Sturbridge 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
27.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Underhill and Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge and Putney 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$92,267±$54k 14% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$446,000±$24kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Underhill and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
— |
| Sturbridge and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$6,697Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Sturbridge 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±11.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7 |
— |
| 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.