Compare towns
Underhill vs Jay vs Putney vs Fairfax
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).
Jay has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Jay | Putney | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,141 |
471Lowest |
2,622 |
5,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
| Jay and Fairfax 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3 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% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest 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% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
| 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,080±$131Highest 12% 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,497 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1994 18 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 39% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Fairfax 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 | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.