Compare towns
Arlington vs Cambridge vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Cambridge has the most kids (23% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Cambridge | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,598Lowest |
3,767 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±4Highest 3% below U.S. |
37.4±1.8 4% below U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Arlington and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
23%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Cambridge and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Arlington and Dover 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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 27% above U.S. |
$72,344±$19kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
| Arlington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,500±$59kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$343,000±$38k 3% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172 16% below U.S. |
$1,183±$66Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$4,910 57% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.6%±7.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Arlington and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 70 in VT | #25 of 70 in VT | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Arlington School District | Cambridge School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.