Compare towns
Underhill vs Castleton vs Highgate 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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
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 | Castleton | Highgate | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,141 |
4,453Highest |
3,528 |
2,622Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Highgate 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%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest 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% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate 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% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%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% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Underhill and Highgate 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±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Castleton and Highgate 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 |
$3,558 29% 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% |
30.5%±11.3 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 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 |
31 min 32% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 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 | #2 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #43 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 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.