Compare towns
Pawlet vs Arlington vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pawlet has the oldest housing (typical home built 1964).
Arlington has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
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 | Pawlet | Arlington | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480 |
2,598Highest |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
| Jay and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
| Arlington and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
| Arlington and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
— |
| Arlington and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,924 22% below VT |
$4,549Highest 10% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
84%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Jay 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 | Mettawee School District #84 | Arlington School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.