What stands out worked out from the figures below

Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 50.6).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Arlington	Bethlehem
People
Population	2,598Highest	2,537Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.6±4Lowest 3% below U.S.	50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.6%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	17.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Arlington and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bethlehem 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 U.S.: 35.7%	45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Arlington and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,308±$11kHighest 27% above U.S.	$85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S.
	Arlington and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,500±$59kHighest 4% below U.S.	$288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S.
	Arlington and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,191±$172Highest 16% below U.S.	$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S.
	Arlington and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S.	$5,418Highest 74% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 23% below U.S.	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	31.2%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Arlington and Bethlehem 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	#34 of 120 in NH
School district	Arlington School District	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District
High school in town	Arlington Memorial	Profile Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Highest	8.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.