Compare towns
Bolton vs Hardwick vs Arlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
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.
| Measure | Bolton | Hardwick | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
2,965Highest |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
| Hardwick and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Arlington and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
$92,297±$17kLowest 14% above VT |
$102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
| Bolton and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$42k about the VT average |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
| Arlington and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273Highest 5% above VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
| Bolton and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826Highest 4% below VT |
$4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Bolton 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 | — | #68 of 70 in VT | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.