Compare towns
Arlington vs Dummerston vs Putney vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k 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 | Dummerston | Putney | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,598 |
2,090 |
2,622Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4 13% below VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Dummerston 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% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Arlington 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% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Arlington and Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Dummerston and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172 3% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Dummerston and Arlington 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Putney 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 13% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Dummerston 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Arlington School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.