Compare towns
Underhill vs Webster 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 expensive homes ($446k median).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Webster | Putney | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,141 |
17,748Highest |
2,622Lowest |
5,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+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 |
39.9±2.9Highest about the U.S. average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
38.8±3.3 about the U.S. average |
| Webster 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 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% |
19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster and Putney 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 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. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$128,963±$29kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| 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 34% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$378,200±$22k 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,080±$131 24% below U.S. |
| Webster and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,697Highest 115% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$5,497 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±33.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Webster 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% |
12.7% 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% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 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. |
31 min 16% 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% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #32 of 70 in VT | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Webster | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.