Compare towns
Arlington vs Sandgate vs Shaftsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
Bordering ArlingtonSunderland
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arlington has the most expensive homes ($319k median).
Sandgate has the oldest population (median age 55.7).
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% under 18).
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 | Sandgate | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,598 |
435Lowest |
3,607Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +0.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
43±6.6 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Shaftsbury and Arlington 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% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate and Shaftsbury 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% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Arlington and Sandgate 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 |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$86,071±$24k 6% above VT |
| Arlington and Shaftsbury 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 |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$267,300±$24k 16% below VT |
| Arlington and Shaftsbury 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 |
— | $1,079±$54Lowest 13% below VT |
| Arlington and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Highest 10% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$4,015 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.7%±36 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4 VT: 16.9% |
7.2%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Sandgate 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 | — | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Arlington School District | — | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.