Compare towns
Arlington vs Putney vs Williston vs Worcester
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Williston | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,598 |
2,622 |
10,144Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4 13% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Williston 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Williston and Arlington 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±$44k 5% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172 3% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 10% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 13% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Worcester 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 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 Our Story | 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.