Compare towns
Putney vs Underhill vs Fair Haven
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
3,141Highest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
39.2±7.6Highest 9% below VT |
| Fair Haven 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% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Fair Haven 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%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fair Haven 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% 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 |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
— | $830±$116Highest 33% below VT |
| Fair Haven and Putney 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 |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16% VT: 10.1% |
6.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest 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 | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.