Compare towns
Arlington vs Cambridge vs Johnson
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 most people working from home (35.9%).
Cambridge has the most expensive homes ($343k median).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k 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 | Cambridge | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,598Lowest |
3,767Highest |
3,450 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.9% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4Highest 13% below VT |
37.4±1.8 13% below VT |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
| 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%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Cambridge and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Arlington and Cambridge 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% |
50.7% VT: 43.8% |
32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$72,344±$19k 11% below VT |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Arlington and Cambridge 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 |
$343,000±$38kHighest 8% above VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
| Cambridge 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 |
$1,183±$66 4% below VT |
$948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
| Arlington and Cambridge 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 |
$4,910Highest about the VT average |
$3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
66.6%±7.3 VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
6.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.3% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
32 min 38% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 70 in VT | #25 of 70 in VT | #57 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Arlington School District | Cambridge School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
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| 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.