Compare towns
Arlington vs Waterbury vs Bolton
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%).
Waterbury has the most expensive homes ($447k median).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
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 | Waterbury | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,598 |
5,405Highest |
1,163Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% VT: +2.8% |
+5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4 13% below VT |
43.2±3.7Highest about the VT average |
36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
| Waterbury and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Arlington and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waterbury 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 |
$103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
$111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
| Bolton and Waterbury 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 |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
$311,600±$42kLowest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172 3% below VT |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,299±$273Highest 5% above VT |
| Bolton and Arlington 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 |
$6,435Highest 28% above VT |
$4,826 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Waterbury 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% |
7.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±8.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Waterbury 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 | #20 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Arlington School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | 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 |
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.