Compare towns
Lowell vs Arlington vs Kirby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k median).
Arlington has the highest household income ($102k).
Kirby has the oldest population (median age 38.8).
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 | Lowell | Arlington | Kirby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,070 |
2,598Highest |
756Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
38.8±7.1Highest 10% below VT |
| Kirby and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
30%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Arlington and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
4.6%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Kirby and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15k 29% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$54,792±$21kLowest 33% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$302,900±$63k 4% below VT |
| Arlington and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
$1,250±$326Highest about the VT average |
| Kirby and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
$4,597Highest 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
25%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
21.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
34 min 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±9.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Kirby 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 | — | #50 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lowell School District | Arlington School District | — |
| High school 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 | 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.