Compare towns
Arlington vs Bennington 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%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Bennington | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,598Lowest |
15,249Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4 13% below VT |
44.7±2.3Highest 4% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Bennington 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% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington 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% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% 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 |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% 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 |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Arlington and Bennington 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 |
$4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Bennington 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% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 13% below VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 70 in VT | #58 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Arlington School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.