What stands out worked out from the figures below

Arlington has the most kids (20.6% under 18).

Durham has the most expensive homes ($504k median).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Durham
People
Population	2,598Lowest	15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.6±4Highest 3% below U.S.	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.
Kids under 18	20.6%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,308±$11kLowest 27% above U.S.	$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S.
	Durham and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,500±$59kLowest 4% below U.S.	$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,191±$172Lowest 16% below U.S.	$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average
	Durham and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±16Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Arlington and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 23% below U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#50 of 70 in VT	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Arlington School District	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Arlington Memorial	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Lowest	12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	51 photos →

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.