Compare towns
Underhill vs Brookfield vs Castleton vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Underhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).
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 | Underhill | Brookfield | Castleton | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,141 |
1,486Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Brookfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest 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 | $92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Brookfield and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Castleton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 39% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | #2 of 70 in VT | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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.