Compare towns
Arlington vs Cabot vs Putney vs Swanton
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%).
Cabot has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Swanton has the most affordable homes ($229k 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 | Cabot | Putney | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,598 |
1,579Lowest |
2,622 |
2,670Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4 13% below VT |
40.3±6.6Highest 6% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
37.8±4.7 12% below VT |
| Cabot and Swanton 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% |
27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.3%±8.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot and Swanton 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% |
21%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Cabot 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% |
44.7% VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$77,031±$16k 5% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
| Arlington and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$268,500±$77k 15% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
| Arlington and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172 3% below VT |
$1,243±$354Highest about the VT average |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,238±$103 about the VT average |
| Cabot and Swanton 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 |
$4,639 8% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,370Lowest 13% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9% VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 13% below VT |
30 minHighest 27% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
21 min 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Cabot 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Arlington School District | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | — | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.