Compare towns
Putney vs Underhill vs Waterbury vs Cabot
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 kids (27.8% under 18).
Waterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Cabot has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Waterbury | Cabot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
3,141 |
5,405Highest |
1,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+5.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
43.2±3.7Highest about the VT average |
40.3±6.6 6% below VT |
| Waterbury and Cabot 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% |
21.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Cabot 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% |
19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
21%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Cabot and Waterbury 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% |
54.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$103,917±$23kHighest 28% above VT |
$77,031±$16kLowest 5% below VT |
| Waterbury 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±$44k 5% below VT |
$446,000±$24k 41% above VT |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
$268,500±$77kLowest 15% below VT |
| Waterbury and Underhill 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 |
— | $1,027±$535 17% below VT |
$1,243±$354Highest about the VT average |
| Cabot and Waterbury 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 |
$6,435 28% above VT |
$4,639Lowest 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Waterbury 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% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
30 min 27% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury and Cabot 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 | #20 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — |
| 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 | 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.