Compare towns

Putney vs Thornton 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).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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.

MeasurePutneyThorntonUnderhill
People
Population
2,622Lowest
2,799
3,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
51.1±3.4Highest
31% above U.S.
38.1±11.4
about the U.S. average
Thornton and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
13.9%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.8%±10.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Underhill and Putney 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%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Thornton 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$90,022±$17k
12% above U.S.
$92,267±$54kHighest
14% above U.S.
Underhill and Thornton 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.
$351,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$446,000±$24kHighest
34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,270±$428Highest
10% below U.S.
—
Thornton and Putney 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.
$5,032Lowest
61% above U.S.
$6,697Highest
115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
57.7%±24.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±18.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Thornton 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%
9.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
33 minHighest
24% above U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.8%±9.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±11.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Thornton 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 #18 of 120 in NH #2 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Thornton School District Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.