What stands out worked out from the figures below

Augusta has the most affordable homes ($147k median).

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

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	Augusta	Arlington
People
Population	1,851Lowest	2,598Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±3.3Highest 13% above U.S.	37.6±4Lowest 3% below U.S.
	Augusta and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	20.6%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Augusta and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Arlington and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Arlington and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,852±$10kLowest 28% below U.S.	$102,308±$11kHighest 27% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$147,200±$33kLowest 56% below U.S.	$318,500±$59kHighest 4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$806±$209Lowest 43% below U.S.	$1,191±$172Highest 16% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,062Lowest about the U.S. average	$4,549Highest 46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.2%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Arlington and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966 14 yrs older than U.S.	1966 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	14.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#50 of 70 in VT
School district	—	Arlington School District
High school in town	—	Arlington Memorial
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.