Compare towns
Arlington vs Dummerston vs Ripton vs Bolton
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%).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Bolton has the youngest population (median age 36.3).
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 | Ripton | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,598Highest |
2,090 |
508Lowest |
1,163 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4 13% below VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
| Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±4 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%±3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Dummerston 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
$101,696±$21kLowest 25% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$111,125±$17k 37% above VT |
| Ripton and Bolton 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±$22k 6% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$311,600±$42kLowest about the VT average |
| Ripton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172Lowest 3% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
— | $1,299±$273 5% above VT |
| Dummerston and Bolton 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 |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,826 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Ripton 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±8.2 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Arlington School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 History | 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.