Compare towns
Arlington vs Benson 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%).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Benson | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,598 |
784Lowest |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4 13% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Benson 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% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson 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% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% 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 |
$242,000±$26kLowest 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 |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Arlington and Benson 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 |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 13% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — |
| 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.