Compare towns
Arlington vs Fairfield 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 the most people working from home (35.9%).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Fairfield | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,598Highest |
1,938 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Fairfield 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% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Arlington and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Fairfield 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 |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Arlington and Fairfield 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 |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Fairfield and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Arlington and Waterville 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 |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Waterville 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Arlington School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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 Our Story | 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.