Compare towns
Arlington vs Castleton vs Shaftsbury vs Underhill
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%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Shaftsbury has the oldest population (median age 43).
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k 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 | Castleton | Shaftsbury | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,598Lowest |
4,453Highest |
3,607 |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
43±6.6Highest about the VT average |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
| Shaftsbury and Castleton 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% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.5%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Shaftsbury and Arlington 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.9% VT: 43.8% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$86,071±$24k 6% above VT |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
| Arlington and Underhill 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$267,300±$24k 16% below VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,079±$54Lowest 13% below VT |
— |
| Arlington and Castleton 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,015 20% below VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
52.7%±36 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
6.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.3% VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 13% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.2%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Underhill 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 | #62 of 70 in VT | #2 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Arlington School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town | 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 | 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.