Compare towns
Arlington vs Brookfield vs Northfield
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%).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 47).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Brookfield | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,598 |
1,486Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4 13% below VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Brookfield and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Brookfield 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% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield 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% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Arlington and Brookfield 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 |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
| Brookfield 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 |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Arlington and Northfield 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 |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Northfield 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% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Brookfield 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Arlington School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| 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.