Compare towns
Nelson vs Arlington vs Roxbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Roxbury has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Nelson | Arlington | Roxbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648 |
2,598Highest |
299Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
37.6±4Lowest 3% below U.S. |
43.2±17.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Roxbury and Nelson 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%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±11.5Lowest 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%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±10.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.4%±15.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Roxbury and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$102,308±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$69,226±$14kLowest 14% below 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. |
$323,100±$219k about the U.S. average |
| Nelson and Roxbury 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 | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,787Highest 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.7%±1.4Lowest 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 | 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.