Compare towns
Arlington vs Hooksett vs Shaftsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% under 18).
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 | Hooksett | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,598Lowest |
5,876Highest |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±4Lowest 3% below U.S. |
42.6±2 10% above U.S. |
43±6.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Shaftsbury and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shaftsbury and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shaftsbury 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Arlington 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 27% above U.S. |
$101,053±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$86,071±$24kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Arlington and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,500±$59k 4% below U.S. |
$348,100±$32kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$267,300±$24kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Hooksett 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 16% below U.S. |
$1,811±$283Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,079±$54Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$4,960Highest 59% above U.S. |
$4,015Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.7%±36 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Arlington and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 70 in VT | #30 of 120 in NH | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Arlington School District | — | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.