Compare towns
Arlington vs Nelson 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%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).
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 | Nelson | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,598 |
648Lowest |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±4 3% below U.S. |
42.3±11.7Highest 9% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Arlington and Nelson 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. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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. |
$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Arlington and Nelson 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Arlington School District | Nelson School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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 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.