Compare towns
Western vs Underhill vs Ava
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Western has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Underhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Ava has the most affordable homes ($126k 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.
| Measure | Western | Underhill | Ava |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,839 |
3,141Highest |
633Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48±6Highest 23% above U.S. |
38.1±11.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.9±8.7 21% above U.S. |
| Western and Ava are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.4Lowest 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+ | 26.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±4.6Lowest 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+ | 32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
9.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,964±$16k 10% above U.S. |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$71,875±$21kLowest 11% below 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 | $237,800±$69k 29% below U.S. |
$446,000±$24kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$125,700±$36kLowest 62% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,024±$178Highest 28% below U.S. |
— | $750±$249Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Western and Ava are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 58% above U.S. |
$6,697Highest 115% above U.S. |
$1,793Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±26.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.9%±67.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Western and Ava are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±11.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Underhill and Ava 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 | — |
| 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 | 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.