Compare towns

Athens vs Dummerston vs Arlington

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).

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.

MeasureAthensDummerstonArlington
People
Population
431Lowest
2,090
2,598Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+0.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.3±6.5Highest
10% above VT
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
37.6±4Lowest
13% below VT
Athens and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
20.6%±3.9
VT: 17.9%
Dummerston and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.7%±3.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Dummerston and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
55.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±3Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.3%±1.7
VT: 7%
Athens and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$68,438±$30kLowest
16% below VT
$101,696±$21k
25% above VT
$102,308±$11kHighest
26% above VT
Arlington and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$240,400±$32kLowest
24% below VT
$335,300±$22kHighest
6% above VT
$318,500±$59k
about the VT average
Dummerston and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$537Lowest
9% below VT
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
$1,191±$172
3% below VT
Dummerston and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,438Highest
8% above VT
$4,536Lowest
10% below VT
$4,549
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±39Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
77.1%±9.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
Arlington and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.5%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Highest
3 yrs older than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1966Lowest
10 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
53% above VT
21 min
11% below VT
20 minLowest
13% below VT
Work from home
19.3%±7.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3
VT: 16.9%
35.9%±10.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
Arlington and Dummerston 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 — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Arlington School District
High school in town — None in town Arlington Memorial
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.