Compare towns
Arlington vs Benson vs Sutton vs Fairfax
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%).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Sutton | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,598 |
784Lowest |
790 |
5,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
| Benson and Sutton 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% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax 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% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Sutton 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% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
| Fairfax and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
| Fairfax and Arlington 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 |
— | $1,080±$131Lowest 12% 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 |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Benson 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% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Fairfax 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 | — | — | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Arlington School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Highest |
— | — | 9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.