What stands out worked out from the figures below

Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Royalton has the most renters (36.5% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Arlington	Royalton
People
Population	2,598Lowest	2,752Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest VT: +2.8%	-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT	43.9±10.1Highest about the VT average
	Royalton 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%	14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Arlington and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4%	22.1%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4%
	Royalton 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%	42.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7%	8%±4.2Highest VT: 7%
	Royalton and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,308±$11kLowest 26% above VT	$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT
	Royalton 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±$59kHighest about the VT average	$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT
	Arlington and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT	$1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT
	Arlington and Royalton 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	$4,675Highest 7% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4%	36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%	13%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84%Highest VT: 73.2%	63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 10 yrs older than VT	1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 min 13% below VT	20 min 13% below VT
Work from home	35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9%	17.8%±7.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Arlington and Royalton 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	#48 of 70 in VT
School district	Arlington School District	White River Unified School District #79
High school in town	Arlington Memorial	White River Valley High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Highest	8.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.