What stands out worked out from the figures below

Underhill has the most people working from home (19.4%).

Western has the most affordable homes ($238k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Underhill	Western
People
Population	3,141Highest	1,839Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.1±11.4Lowest about the U.S. average	48±6Highest 23% above U.S.
	Western 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 U.S.: 22%	22%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Underhill and Western are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.6%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Western 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 U.S.: 35.7%	32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above U.S.	$88,964±$16kLowest 10% above U.S.
	Underhill and Western 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.	$237,800±$69kLowest 29% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,024±$178 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,697Highest 115% above U.S.	$4,930Lowest 58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.4%±26.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	19.4%±11.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#2 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	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.