Compare towns
Bolton vs Waitsfield 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%).
Waitsfield has the most expensive homes ($422k 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 | Waitsfield | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
1,918 |
2,598Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
44.3±5.3Highest about the VT average |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
| Waitsfield 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% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield 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% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield 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% VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Waitsfield 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 |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% 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±$42kLowest about the VT average |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
| Waitsfield and Arlington 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 |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
$1,191±$172Lowest 3% below VT |
| Bolton and Waitsfield 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 |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
$4,549Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Waitsfield 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84%Highest 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 |
25 min 6% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Lowest 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | 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.