Compare towns
Cambridge vs Wilder vs Arlington vs Waterbury
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).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Waterbury has the most expensive homes ($447k median).
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 | Wilder | Arlington | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,767 |
3,087 |
2,598Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+6% VT: +2.8% |
+5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.4±1.8Lowest 13% below VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
| Wilder and Waterbury 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%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Cambridge and Waterbury 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% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Waterbury 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 |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
$103,917±$23kHighest 28% above VT |
| Waterbury 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 |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,183±$66 4% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$1,027±$535Lowest 17% 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 |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$4,549Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,435Highest 28% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.6%±7.3 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.8%±21.7 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% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.3% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.3%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Waterbury 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 | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Cambridge School District | — | Arlington School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Arlington Memorial | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.