Compare towns
Arlington vs Athens vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Athens has the oldest population (median age 47.3).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Arlington | Athens | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,598 |
431Lowest |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4 13% below VT |
47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Athens and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Athens and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Arlington and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Arlington and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Arlington and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.7% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 13% below VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Athens 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 | #50 of 70 in VT | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Arlington School District | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.