Compare towns
Arlington vs Bolton vs Calais
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%).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
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 | Bolton | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,598Highest |
1,163Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% VT: +2.8% |
+10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4 13% below VT |
36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
42±8.6Highest about the VT average |
| Calais 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% |
14.9%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais 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% |
6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Calais 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% VT: 43.8% |
58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Arlington 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 |
$111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
$100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
| Bolton 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 |
$311,600±$42kLowest about the VT average |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172Lowest 3% below VT |
$1,299±$273 5% above VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,826 4% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Calais 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% |
2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% VT: 73.2% |
81.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±8.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Calais 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 | — | — |
| School district | Arlington School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 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.