Compare towns
Arlington vs Putney vs Ripton vs Williston
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%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k 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 | Putney | Ripton | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,598 |
2,622 |
508Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4 13% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Ripton and Williston 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Williston 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Williston 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% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
| Ripton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Williston and Ripton 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 13% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Arlington School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town | 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 | 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.