Compare towns
Arlington vs Dummerston vs Sheldon
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 oldest population (median age 45.6).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,598Highest |
2,090Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Dummerston and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Arlington and Sheldon 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 |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% 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 |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% 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±$172Lowest 3% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Dummerston and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Highest 10% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | 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 |
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.