What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brandon has the oldest population (median age 50.1).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brandon	Arlington
People
Population	4,120Highest	2,598Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+6%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT	37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT
Kids under 18	19.2%±4.3Lowest VT: 17.9%	20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9%
	Arlington and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±4.1Highest VT: 21.4%	20.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Brandon and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%	55.9%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7%	3.3%±1.7Highest VT: 7%
	Arlington and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT	$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT	$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT	$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT
	Arlington and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,241Lowest 16% below VT	$4,549Highest 10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4%	77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line	14.2%Highest VT: 10.1%	7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest VT: 73.2%	84%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT	1966Highest 10 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest about the VT average	20 minLowest 13% below VT
Work from home	9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#69 of 70 in VT	#50 of 70 in VT
School district	Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53	Arlington School District
High school in town	Otter Valley Union High School	Arlington Memorial
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9Lowest	10.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.