Compare towns
Putney vs Underhill vs Cambridge vs Castleton
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).
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Cambridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Underhill | Cambridge | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
3,141 |
3,767 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+4.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
37.4±1.8 13% below VT |
38.3±4.3Highest 11% below VT |
| Castleton 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% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Cambridge 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% |
17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton 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% VT: 43.8% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
50.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above VT |
$72,344±$19kLowest 11% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Underhill and Putney 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 |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$343,000±$38k 8% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
— | $1,183±$66Highest 4% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Cambridge and Castleton 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 |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$4,910 about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.6%±7.3 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Cambridge 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% |
6.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
79.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
32 min 38% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Underhill and Putney 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 | #25 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Cambridge School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.