Compare towns
Arlington vs Lee vs Putney
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Lee has the oldest population (median age 55.2).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k 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 | Lee | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,598Lowest |
5,719Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±4 3% below U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Arlington and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Arlington and Lee 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. |
$352,700±$19kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Lee 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. |
$1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Lee and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Arlington and Lee 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% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 23% below U.S. |
18 min 31% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 70 in VT | #209 of 282 in MA | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Arlington School District | Lee | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Highest |
9.2Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 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.