Compare towns
Arlington vs Reading vs Sheldon vs Sunderland
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%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Sunderland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Reading | Sheldon | Sunderland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,598Highest |
699Lowest |
2,267 |
1,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
40.8±2.8 5% below VT |
| Reading and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.6%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Sunderland 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
16.7%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
| Arlington and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$88,523±$16k 9% above VT |
| Arlington and Sunderland 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$300,000±$43k 5% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,413±$242Highest 15% above VT |
| Sunderland and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 10% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,136 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.5%±61.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Reading 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Arlington School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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.