Compare towns
Arlington vs Dummerston 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%).
Dummerston has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Dummerston | Newfields | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,598 |
2,090 |
2,023Lowest |
5,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%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. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
38.8±3.3 about the U.S. average |
| Dummerston and Newfields 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% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfax and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11k 27% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$128,963±$29k 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,500±$59kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$378,200±$22k 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172 16% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,080±$131Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$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% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Arlington and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% 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. |
1971 9 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 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
21 min 21% 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% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | — | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Arlington School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.