Compare towns
Arlington vs Castleton vs Newfields vs Fairfax
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%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Castleton | Newfields | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,598 |
4,453 |
2,023Lowest |
5,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±4Lowest 3% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
38.8±3.3 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfax 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% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11k 27% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$128,963±$29k 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,500±$59k 4% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$378,200±$22k 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172 16% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,080±$131Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,497 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Arlington and Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Arlington and Fairfax 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Arlington School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Newfields School District | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Highest |
— | — | 9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.