What stands out worked out from the figures below

Arlington has the most homeowners (84%).

Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).

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	Lebanon
People
Population	2,598Lowest	14,999Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.6±4Lowest 3% below U.S.	38.9±3.1Highest about the U.S. average
	Lebanon and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Arlington and Lebanon 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%	21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lebanon 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lebanon 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.	$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S.
	Arlington and Lebanon 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.	$385,400±$29kHighest 16% above U.S.
	Lebanon 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 16% below U.S.	$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S.	$8,149Highest 161% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 23% below U.S.	14 minLowest 47% below U.S.
Work from home	35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	22.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Arlington and Lebanon 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	#29 of 120 in NH
School district	Arlington School District	Lebanon School District
High school in town	Arlington Memorial	Lebanon High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Lowest	11.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.