Compare towns
Putney vs Underhill vs Waterville
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).
Underhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($185k 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 | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
3,141 |
17,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
38.1±11.4Highest about the U.S. average |
35.5±2.5Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Underhill and Putney 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% |
27.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest 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% |
17.6%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waterville 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% |
50.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
18.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney and Waterville 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 U.S. average |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$53,580±$4kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| 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 10% below U.S. |
$446,000±$24kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$184,600±$21kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
— | $978±$72Highest 31% below U.S. |
| Waterville 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. |
$6,697Highest 115% above U.S. |
$2,755Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.5%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±11.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #105 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Waterville Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Waterville Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.