Compare towns
Bolton vs Strafford 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%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Strafford | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
1,372 |
2,598Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford 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% |
53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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 |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$102,308±$11kLowest 26% above VT |
| Bolton and Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273Highest 5% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% 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 | $4,826 4% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,549Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Strafford 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | — | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Strafford School District | 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.