Compare towns
Marlboro vs Arlington vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlboro has the youngest population (median age 22.7).
Arlington has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Dover has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Marlboro | Arlington | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,362Lowest |
2,598Highest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +59.7% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.7% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,135±$10k 5% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,300±$55kHighest 13% above VT |
$318,500±$59kLowest about the VT average |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
| Marlboro and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Marlboro and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,640Highest 12% above VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±43.6 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 26% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
22 minHighest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 26%±11.2 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Marlboro 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 | Marlboro School District | Arlington School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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 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.


