Compare towns
Underhill vs Dorset vs Plainfield 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 the most kids (27.8% under 18).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Dorset | Plainfield | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,141Highest |
2,092 |
1,314Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Plainfield and Dorset 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% |
24%±5.5 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Dorset 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% |
21.9%±4.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Dorset and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.1% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Dorset 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±$24k 41% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Dorset and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,697 33% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Plainfield 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% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 39% above VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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.