What stands out worked out from the figures below

Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Arlington	Chester
People
Population	2,598Lowest	2,992Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest VT: +2.8%	-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT	49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT
Kids under 18	20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9%	14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Arlington and Chester 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%	29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4%
	Chester 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%	33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7%	5.1%±4Highest VT: 7%
	Chester 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	$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average	$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT
	Arlington and Chester 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	$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,549Highest 10% below VT	$4,262Lowest 15% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4%	11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest VT: 10.1%	7%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84%Lowest VT: 73.2%	86.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT	1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 13% below VT	28 minHighest 18% above VT
Work from home	35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9%	14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#50 of 70 in VT	#49 of 70 in VT
School district	Arlington School District	Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town	Arlington Memorial	Green Mountain Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Highest	8.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.