Compare towns
Cambridge vs Ripton vs Putney 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 kids (23% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Ripton | Putney | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,767Highest |
508Lowest |
2,622 |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.4±1.8 13% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
| Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Cambridge and Arlington 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Arlington 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% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton 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 |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
| Ripton 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
| Ripton 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 |
— | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,549Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.6%±7.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Ripton 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Cambridge School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.