Compare towns
Marlboro vs Ripton vs Halifax 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%).
Ripton has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Halifax has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Halifax | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,362 |
508Lowest |
847 |
2,598Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +59.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7% VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
37.6±4 13% below VT |
| Ripton and Halifax 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Halifax 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,135±$10k 5% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
| Ripton 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
| Ripton 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 |
— | $875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,191±$172 3% 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,991 about the VT average |
$4,549Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±43.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Halifax 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% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
84%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 26% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 26%±11.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Halifax 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Halifax School District | 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.