Compare towns
Arlington vs Bellows Falls 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
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 | Bellows Falls | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,598Lowest |
2,891Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4 13% below VT |
41.3±6.7Highest 4% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Bellows Falls and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Arlington 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% |
23.7%±5.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bellows Falls 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% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% 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 |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% 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 |
$1,038±$109 16% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Arlington and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 10% below VT |
$4,448Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest 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% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 13% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| 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.