What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bristol has the oldest population (median age 47.9).

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	Bristol
People
Population	2,598Lowest	3,778Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest VT: +2.8%	-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT	47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT
Kids under 18	20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9%	12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	20.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4%	21.9%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4%
	Bristol 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%	41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7%	5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7%
	Bristol 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±$11kHighest 26% above VT	$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,500±$59kLowest about the VT average	$337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT
	Bristol 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	$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT
	Bristol and Arlington 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	$5,978Highest 19% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4%	47.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%	10.1%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84%Highest VT: 73.2%	71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT	1976Highest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 13% below VT	25 minHighest 5% above VT
Work from home	35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9%	17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#50 of 70 in VT	#31 of 70 in VT
School district	Arlington School District	Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61
High school in town	Arlington Memorial	Mt. Abraham Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Lowest	11.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.