Compare towns

Underhill vs Rye vs Putney vs Fairfax

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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.

MeasureUnderhillRyePutneyFairfax
People
Population
3,141
5,611Highest
2,622Lowest
5,226
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+17%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.1±11.4
about the U.S. average
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
38.8±3.3
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
27.8%±10.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
12.5%±4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
50.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$92,267±$54k
14% above U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$128,963±$29k
60% above U.S.
Rye and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$446,000±$24k
34% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$300,000±$44kLowest
10% below U.S.
$378,200±$22k
14% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,080±$131
24% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,697
115% above U.S.
$7,519Highest
141% above U.S.
$5,313Lowest
70% above U.S.
$5,497
76% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±18.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±33.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1994Highest
14 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
24% above U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
Work from home
19.4%±11.3
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.7%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Rye 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 #2 of 120 in NH #32 of 70 in VT #36 of 70 in VT
School district Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Rye 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 6 photos → 6 photos → None yet

U.S. 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.