Compare towns
Marlboro vs Middlesex vs Dover 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 the youngest population (median age 22.7).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Dover has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
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 | Middlesex | Dover | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,362Lowest |
1,943 |
1,466 |
2,598Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +59.7% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
| Dover and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 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% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,135±$10k 5% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
| Middlesex and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,300±$55k 13% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$318,500±$59kLowest about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Marlboro 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 |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
| Marlboro and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,640 12% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±43.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 26% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 26%±11.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.