Compare towns
Arlington vs Calais vs Dover vs Sandgate
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 youngest population (median age 37.6).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Dover has the most renters (18.9% rent).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k 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 | Calais | Dover | Sandgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,598Highest |
1,713 |
1,466 |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
| Sandgate and Dover 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% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 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%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Sandgate 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% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest 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±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
| Arlington and Calais 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 |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
| Calais and Dover 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 |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
— |
| Calais and Arlington 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 |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Sandgate 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — |
| 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 History | None yet | 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.