Compare towns

Underhill vs Fairfax 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 expensive homes ($446k median).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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.

MeasureUnderhillFairfaxPutney
People
Population
3,141
5,226Highest
2,622Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.7%
VT: +2.8%
+17%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
38.1±11.4
12% below VT
38.8±3.3Highest
10% below VT
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
Fairfax and Underhill 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%±5.3
VT: 17.9%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Underhill and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±6
VT: 21.4%
12.5%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
18.1%±3.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
Putney and Underhill 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%
49.5%
VT: 43.8%
48.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±2Lowest
VT: 7%
4.3%±2.6
VT: 7%
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$92,267±$54k
14% above VT
$128,963±$29kHighest
59% above VT
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the VT average
Fairfax 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
$378,200±$22k
19% above VT
$300,000±$44kLowest
5% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,080±$131Highest
12% below VT
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
Fairfax and Putney 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
$5,497
9% above VT
$5,313Lowest
5% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±18.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
43.3%±33.9
VT: 48.4%
54.2%±19.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
Putney and Fairfax 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%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
16%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%
VT: 73.2%
85.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
72.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
1994Highest
18 yrs newer than VT
1977Lowest
1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
39% above VT
31 min
31% above VT
18 minLowest
24% below VT
Work from home
19.4%±11.3
VT: 16.9%
26.7%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Fairfax 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 #36 of 70 in VT #32 of 70 in VT
School district Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Fairfax School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.8
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.