Compare towns
Bolton vs Middlesex 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%).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k 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 | Middlesex | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
1,943 |
2,598Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
| Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Arlington 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Arlington and Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Arlington 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 |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$102,308±$11kLowest 26% above VT |
| Bolton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$42kLowest about the VT average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273 5% above VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,191±$172Lowest 3% below VT |
| Middlesex and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826 4% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,549Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Middlesex 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 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None 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.