Compare towns
Arlington vs Calais vs Dummerston
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%).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Dummerston has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,598Highest |
1,713Lowest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Calais 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% |
55.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest 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±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
| Arlington and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,500±$59kLowest about the VT average |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
| Calais and Dummerston 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 |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
| Calais and Dummerston 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 |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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.