Compare towns
Marlboro vs Castleton vs Dummerston vs Arlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+59.7%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Dummerston has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Castleton | Dummerston | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,362Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,090 |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +59.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
| Dummerston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Castleton 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,135±$10k 5% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
| Arlington and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,300±$55kHighest 13% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
| Marlboro and Dummerston 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 |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
| Marlboro and Dummerston 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±43.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 26% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
21 minHighest 11% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 26%±11.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Marlboro School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 | 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.