Compare towns
Arlington vs Montpelier vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
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 | Montpelier | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,598Lowest |
8,014Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4 13% below VT |
42.3±2.4Highest about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Montpelier 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 VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Montpelier 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% |
24.3%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Montpelier 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% VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$81,030±$6k about the VT average |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$375,100±$21kHighest 18% above VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
| Montpelier 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 3% below VT |
$1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Montpelier and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Highest VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 13% below VT |
18 min 23% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Montpelier 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 | #9 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Arlington School District | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | Montpelier High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.