Compare towns
Cambridge 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
Cambridge has the most renters (29.7% rent).
Middlesex has the oldest population (median age 44.4).
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 | Cambridge | Middlesex | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,767Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.4±1.8Lowest 13% 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 | 23%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Cambridge and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest 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+ | 50.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest 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 | $72,344±$19kLowest 11% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$318,500±$59kLowest about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,183±$66Lowest 4% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
| Middlesex and Arlington 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,549Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.6%±7.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.1Lowest 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 | #25 of 70 in VT | — | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Cambridge School District | 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.