Compare towns

Underhill vs Castleton vs Braintree 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%).
Castleton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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.

MeasureUnderhillCastletonBraintreePutney
People
Population
3,141
4,453Highest
1,026Lowest
2,622
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-5.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-3.1%
VT: +2.8%
-3.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
38.1±11.4
12% below VT
38.3±4.3
11% below VT
58.4±2.4Highest
35% above VT
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
Kids under 18
27.8%±10.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±6.4
VT: 17.9%
12.3%±3.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
15.4%±4.1
VT: 17.9%
Underhill and Castleton 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%
20.7%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
33.2%±3.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
18.1%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
50.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
37.9%
VT: 43.8%
30.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±2
VT: 7%
19.3%±1.8
VT: 7%
1.8%±1.3Lowest
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±$54kHighest
14% above VT
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below VT
$79,803±$5k
about the VT average
$79,706±$18k
about the VT average
Underhill and Braintree 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
$224,800±$71k
29% below VT
$217,700±$28kLowest
31% below VT
$300,000±$44k
5% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,137±$195Highest
8% below VT
$840±$405
32% below VT
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
Castleton and Braintree 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
$3,167Lowest
37% below VT
$3,908
22% below VT
$5,313
5% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±18.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
67.7%±21.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
43.4%±29.4
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%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
12.5%
VT: 10.1%
11.1%
VT: 10.1%
16%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%
VT: 73.2%
79%
VT: 73.2%
81%Highest
VT: 73.2%
72.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
3 yrs newer than VT
1974Lowest
2 yrs older than VT
1979Highest
3 yrs newer than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
39% above VT
19 min
17% below VT
26 min
11% above VT
18 minLowest
24% below VT
Work from home
19.4%±11.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
19%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
16.9%±6.5
VT: 16.9%
Underhill and Braintree 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 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 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 History 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.