Compare towns
Arlington vs Jay vs Shaftsbury
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%).
Jay has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Jay | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,598 |
471Lowest |
3,607Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
43±6.6 about the VT average |
| Jay and Shaftsbury 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Shaftsbury and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
40.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Arlington and Shaftsbury 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 |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$86,071±$24k 6% above VT |
| Arlington and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$267,300±$24k 16% below VT |
| Arlington and Shaftsbury 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 |
— | $1,079±$54Lowest 13% below VT |
| Arlington and Shaftsbury 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,015 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.7%±36 VT: 48.4% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.2%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Jay 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 | — | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Arlington School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| 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.