Compare towns
Cambridge vs Fairfax vs Arlington vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cambridge has the most renters (29.7% rent).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Cambridge | Fairfax | Arlington | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,767 |
5,226Highest |
2,598Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.4±1.8 13% below VT |
38.8±3.3Highest 10% below VT |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Fairfax and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Arlington and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.7% VT: 43.8% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,344±$19kLowest 11% below VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Fairfax and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,000±$38k 8% above VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
| Fairfax and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,183±$66 4% below VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Arlington and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,910 about the VT average |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$4,549Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.6%±7.3 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Fairfax 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 | #25 of 70 in VT | #36 of 70 in VT | #50 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Cambridge School District | Fairfax School District | Arlington School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | Arlington Memorial | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.