What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).

Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Nelson	Arlington
People
Population	648Lowest	2,598Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.3±11.7Highest 9% above U.S.	37.6±4Lowest 3% below U.S.
	Nelson and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22%	20.6%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Nelson and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Nelson and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	55.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Arlington and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S.	$102,308±$11kHighest 27% above U.S.
	Arlington and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average	$318,500±$59kLowest 4% below U.S.
	Nelson and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S.	$1,191±$172Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Nelson and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,575Highest 79% above U.S.	$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Arlington and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 8% below U.S.	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	31.5%±8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Arlington and Nelson 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	Nelson 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

U.S. 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.