Compare towns
Underhill vs Reading 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).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Reading | Putney | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,141 |
699Lowest |
2,622 |
5,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
3.1%±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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
| Reading and Fairfax 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
$5,497 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Putney 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 39% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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.